Lecture Prep
Of the Natural Condition of Mankind, as concerning their Felicity and Misery - CHAPTER 13
There is not that much of a difference between the collective man
When we look at faculties of the mind, there is an even greater similarity amongst men
The nature of men is that while yes, they may agree that others can be more witty, or more
eloquent, but they themselves are the most wise
If someone has something that we want, our human nature is to become his 'enemy' and be
'prepared with forces united' to put him in danger of loosing what he has to me, then when I
get what he has, I am in danger of losing it to another
Therefore, there is no way man can be secure unless he is sure that no other power is great
enough to endanger him
Three principles for disagreement found in men:
i. Competition - makes men invade for gain - uses violence to make themselves masters of other
men
ii. Diffidence - makes men invade for safety - uses violence to defend them
iii. Glory - makes men invade for reputation - uses violence for trifles, as a word, a simile or a
different opinion
Warre - every man against every man
o Occurs not just in battle only
o But in a 'tract of time'
o The nature of war (bar fighting) is where there is no assurance to the confliction
Man accuses mankind by his own actions, he locks his goods away, rides armed, etc, even
though he knows that there are laws in place to help him if something happens - we don’t
accuse man's nature, we accuse man
Desires of a man are no sin, the actions that stem from these desires are also no sin until they
know that a law forbids them from these actions
In such a Warre, nothing can be unjust - the ideas of right and wrong have no place
'Justice and injustice are none of the faculties neither of the body, nor mind'
Men are inclined to peace due to the fear of death - this desire is necessary to live comfortably
Reason suggests Articles of Peace - these articles are called the Laws of Nature
Of the Causes, Generation, and definition of a Common-Wealth - CHAPTER 17
The final cause of men (who naturally love dominion over others) is the prediction of their
preservation and a more contented life - getting themselves out of the horrible condition of
Warre (which is a necessary consequent to the natural passions of men), where they will no
longer be scared
Without terror, the natural laws of nature are contrary to our natural passions - Covenants,
without the sword, are 'but words, and of no strength to secure a man at all'
Ants and bees work together - 'communal??' - why can't humans do the same? Because we
have reason, so we can reason that we want more, or we can understand the fear that someone
else will take what is ours
Lecture - Thomas Hobbes: the natural and artificial states of humankind
Two political calamities in his lifetime:
Thirty years war 1618-48 - Hobbes was 30 when it started, 60 when it ended
English Civil War (English revolution) 1640-1660 - 52 when it began 72 when it ended
Scientific Materialism
Hobbes was a materialist and an atomist
For Hobbes, things are essentially atoms in motion, everything we experience is a result of
that - he carries this over to human relations - humans are always in motion and never come
to an ultimate satisfaction
Of the Natural Condition of Mankind, as concerning their Felicity and Misery - CHAPTER 13
There is not that much of a difference between the collective man
When we look at faculties of the mind, there is an even greater similarity amongst men
The nature of men is that while yes, they may agree that others can be more witty, or more
eloquent, but they themselves are the most wise
If someone has something that we want, our human nature is to become his 'enemy' and be
'prepared with forces united' to put him in danger of loosing what he has to me, then when I
get what he has, I am in danger of losing it to another
Therefore, there is no way man can be secure unless he is sure that no other power is great
enough to endanger him
Three principles for disagreement found in men:
i. Competition - makes men invade for gain - uses violence to make themselves masters of other
men
ii. Diffidence - makes men invade for safety - uses violence to defend them
iii. Glory - makes men invade for reputation - uses violence for trifles, as a word, a simile or a
different opinion
Warre - every man against every man
o Occurs not just in battle only
o But in a 'tract of time'
o The nature of war (bar fighting) is where there is no assurance to the confliction
Man accuses mankind by his own actions, he locks his goods away, rides armed, etc, even
though he knows that there are laws in place to help him if something happens - we don’t
accuse man's nature, we accuse man
Desires of a man are no sin, the actions that stem from these desires are also no sin until they
know that a law forbids them from these actions
In such a Warre, nothing can be unjust - the ideas of right and wrong have no place
'Justice and injustice are none of the faculties neither of the body, nor mind'
Men are inclined to peace due to the fear of death - this desire is necessary to live comfortably
Reason suggests Articles of Peace - these articles are called the Laws of Nature
Of the Causes, Generation, and definition of a Common-Wealth - CHAPTER 17
The final cause of men (who naturally love dominion over others) is the prediction of their
preservation and a more contented life - getting themselves out of the horrible condition of
Warre (which is a necessary consequent to the natural passions of men), where they will no
longer be scared
Without terror, the natural laws of nature are contrary to our natural passions - Covenants,
without the sword, are 'but words, and of no strength to secure a man at all'
Ants and bees work together - 'communal??' - why can't humans do the same? Because we
have reason, so we can reason that we want more, or we can understand the fear that someone
else will take what is ours
Lecture - Thomas Hobbes: the natural and artificial states of humankind
Two political calamities in his lifetime:
Thirty years war 1618-48 - Hobbes was 30 when it started, 60 when it ended
English Civil War (English revolution) 1640-1660 - 52 when it began 72 when it ended
Scientific Materialism
Hobbes was a materialist and an atomist
For Hobbes, things are essentially atoms in motion, everything we experience is a result of
that - he carries this over to human relations - humans are always in motion and never come
to an ultimate satisfaction
