Leviathan
An exploration of societal structure and the need for a sovereign power.
Summary of 7 Key Points
Key Points
- State of Nature and the Brutish Life
- Social Contract for Order
- Sovereignty and the Leviathan
- Laws of Nature and Rights
- The Structure of the Commonwealth
- Religion and the State
- Liberty and the Subject
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State of Nature and the Brutish Life
In the state of nature, life is described as solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short. This depiction arises from the lack of any overarching authority to enforce laws or mediate disputes, leading to a scenario where all individuals have natural liberty and equality, but this also means that everyone has the freedom to do whatever they deem necessary for survival. As a result, there is perpetual conflict and fear, with each person acting out of self-interest and the desire for self-preservation. Without a common power to keep them in awe, men are in a condition of war of every man against every man…Read&Listen More
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Social Contract for Order
In ‘Leviathan’, Thomas Hobbes introduces the concept of the social contract as the basis for understanding political order. He starts by depicting the state of nature as a pre-political condition where individuals are guided by their own self-interest, and where there is no authority to resolve disputes. This state of nature is famously described as ‘solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short’. Without a common power to keep them in awe, people are in a constant state of war, where life is insecure and filled with fear of violent death…Read&Listen More
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Sovereignty and the Leviathan
In ‘Leviathan’, Thomas Hobbes introduces a political theory that rests on the notion of sovereignty as the absolute and undivided power of a state or a governing body. Hobbes envisions sovereignty as the ultimate authority that must be obeyed by all citizens in order to maintain peace and prevent the return to a state of nature, which he famously describes as ‘solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short’. The sovereign, whether it be a monarch or an assembly, is tasked with the protection of the people and the enforcement of laws to ensure social order…Read&Listen More
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Laws of Nature and Rights
The ‘Laws of Nature’ in ‘Leviathan’ are a series of precepts or general rules discovered through reason that human beings ought to follow to lead lives in harmony with each other and avoid the conflicts inherent in the ‘state of nature.’ These laws pertain to self-preservation and the necessity of seeking peace with others. The first and fundamental law is to seek peace and follow it, as peace is necessary for the survival of mankind. However, when peace is not attainable, the law permits individuals to use all advantages of war to defend themselves…Read&Listen More
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The Structure of the Commonwealth
The concept of the Commonwealth, or ‘Leviathan,’ as envisioned by Thomas Hobbes, is rooted in the idea that in a state of nature, human life would be ‘solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short,’ due to the inherent equal ability of men to kill one another. Thus, people agree to form a commonwealth for the mutual preservation of their lives. This covenant creates a society and a state, which is like an artificial person, a ‘Leviathan’ created for the purpose of peace and common defense…Read&Listen More
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Religion and the State
In ‘Leviathan’, Thomas Hobbes presents a conception of the relationship between religion and the state that is rooted in his broader philosophical views on human nature and society. Hobbes argues that in the state of nature, humans are driven by their desires and fears, particularly the fear of violent death. To escape this condition, individuals agree to form a commonwealth and establish a sovereign power to enforce peace and security. Religion, for Hobbes, is intimately connected to these fears and desires, as it provides explanations for the unknown and offers solace from the fear of death and the afterlife…Read&Listen More
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Liberty and the Subject
In Hobbes’s ‘Leviathan’, liberty and the subject are deeply intertwined within his social contract theory. Liberty, or freedom, is described by Hobbes as the absence of external impediments to motion. For a subject, this means the freedom to use their own power as they will themselves for the preservation of their own nature; that is, to live and act without being prevented by other forces. This conception of liberty is foundational in Hobbes’s understanding of human nature and the establishment of societal structures…Read&Listen More