Because we’re going whole Hobbes – choice cuts
Part 1 ~ pick two of the quotes below, explain what Hobbes means and then discuss -- do you
agree with his statement/attitude/theory as stated in the quote? always tell me why…..
1. “ If any two men desire the same thing which nevertheless they cannot both enjoy, they become
enemies: and, in the way to their end, which is principally their own conservation and sometimes
their delectation only, to destroy or subdue one another…. where an invader hath no more to fear
than another man’s single power….others may be expected to come prepared with forces to….deprive
him of not only of the fruit of his labor but also of his life or liberty.” Ch. 13 para. 3
2. “To this war of every man against every man this also is consequent, that nothing can be unjust.
The notions of right and wrong, justice and injustice, have there no place. Where there is no common
power, there is no law; where no law, no injustice. Force and fraud are in war two cardinal virtues.
Justice and injustice are none of the faculties neither of the body nor the mind.” Ch. 13 para 13
3.”The passions that incline men to peace are fear of death, desire of such things as are necessary to
commodious living, and a hope by their industry to obtain them. And reason suggesteth convenient
articles of peace, upon which men maybe drawn to agreement. These articles are….called the Laws of
Nature….” Ch. 13 para 14.
4. “….as long as this natural right of every man to everything endureth, there can be no security to
any man, how strong or wise soever he may be….consequently it is a precept or general rule of
reason ‘that every man ought to endeavor peace as far as he has hope of obtaining it, and, when he
cannot obtain it, that he may seek and use all helps and advantages of war.’ The first branch of [this]
rule containeth the first and fundamental law of Nature, which is ‘to seek peace and follow it’. The
second, the sum of the right of Nature, which is, ‘by all means we can, to defend ourselves.’ “ Ch. 14
para 4
5. “For the laws of nature – enjoining justice, fairness, modesty, mercy and (in short) treating others
as we want them to treat us – are in themselves contrary to our natural passions, unless some power
frightens us into observing them…Every man has obeyed the laws of nature when he has wanted to,
which is when he could do it safely…” Ch. 17 p. 77
6. “For if we could suppose a great multitude of men to agree in the observation of justice and other
laws of nature without a common power to keep them all in awe, we might as well suppose all
mankind to do the same; and then there would not be – and would not need to be – any civil
government or commonwealth at all because there would be peace without subjection” Ch. 17 p. 78
7. “These are the rights that make the essence of sovereignty, and are the marks by which one can
tell what man or assembly of men has the sovereign power. For these rights and powers can’t be
shared and can’t be separated from on another….so if we consider any one of the rights I have
discussed, we shall immediately see that it is necessary, because the holding of all the others without
that one will have no effect on the conservation of peace and justice, the purpose for which all
commonwealths are instituted.” Ch. 18 p. 84
8. “A monarch decides who will advise him, and when and where; so he can hear the opinions of men
who are knowledgeable about the matter in question – men of any rank or status ….but when a
sovereign assembly needs advice, it can’t have advisers from outside its own body; and of those who
are in the assembly few are skilled in civic matters – the majority of them being orators, who give
their opinions in speeches that are full either of pretense or of inept learning, and either disrupt the
commonwealth or do it no good. For the flame of the passions dazzles the understanding, but never
enlightens it.” Ch. 19 p. 87
9. “Sovereign power is as great as men can possibly be imagined to make it – whether it is placed in
one man (as in monarchy) or in one assembly of men (as in democratic and aristocratic
commonwealths). And though men may fancy many evil consequences from such unlimited power,
the consequences of not having it – namely, perpetual war of every many against his neighbor – are
much worse.” Ch. 20 p. 95
10. “The obligation of subjects to the sovereign is understood to last as long as he has the power to
protect them, and no longer. For the right that men have by nature to protect themselves when hoone else can protect them can’t be relinquished by any covenant. “ Ch. 21 p. 101
Part 2 ~ Refer to the Laws of Nature as described in Ch. 15 and answer the following question:
Which three of Hobbes’ laws of nature are the most important for the maintenance of a civil,
settled society? Is a government necessary to enforce and or implement these three laws? (as
always, support your answer).
Part 3 ~ Now that you’ve gone whole Hobbes, what do you think about Hobbes views on the
following?

What is the essential nature of humans and human life

How humans live in a true state of nature

What is natural law?

The government that is ideal for humans

The social contract (or covenant), is it needed? what should it look like?