Philosophy
In this paper, we are going to talk about the Leviathan, which is a treatise of an English philosopher Thomas Hobbes who was a younger contemporary of Francis Bacon. Under the influence of ideas of Bacon, Thomas Hobbes began exploring the political and religious issues of his era. Of his many treatises on state structure most important is Leviathan or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil. In addition, we are going to describe Thomas Hobbes idea of the state of nature. Also, we are going to express its influence on his idea of ‘war of all against all’.
Leviathan is a term known to everybody. For the majority of educated people, the Leviathan is a monster of the Old Testament and a famous philosophical work of Thomas Hobbes. Even those who have never opened it know that Hobbes called the almost all-powerful state by the name of Leviathan. The work of Hobbes is very voluminous. A half of the book is devoted to the theology. It attracts attention and stays controversial for several centuries. It is not easy to understand but, in a strange way, it keeps the appeal of the masses, as well as new generations of readers.
In the critical papers, scholars sufficiently studied judgment of Hobbes about a ‘war of all against all’. However, we need to add some explanations. In the second part of the treatise, this thesis is given and proved. ‘Of Common-wealth’ is the second part, which led to the fact that the Leviathan is a biblical monster, perceived as a symbol of the strong government. Numerous opponents of Hobbes accused him of distorting the nature of a man.
Meanwhile, this thesis does not have the absolute meaning for Hobbes. He has repeatedly said that the state of ‘war of all against all’ occurs in periods when there is no state authority, where the order is violated. For example, it exists in the era of revolutions and civil wars: when one is forced to defend its interests on one’s own because one is deprived of the protection of the authorities. The conclusion of the struggle of interests is not presented as a recognition of the original depravity of nature but is a natural result of the state of society in times of public disaster. Hobbes sees no crime in this. Cruelty, as the protection of people interests, may be a sin but only a violation of the law makes it a crime. Meanwhile, there are periods when there is no law or they are not implemented with a weak state power. The concepts of ‘justice’ and ‘rights’ disappear. Shakespeare describes this state of society, until treatise of Hobbes, in his famous speech of Ulysses in the drama of Troilus and Cressida. If ‘an appetite’, so-called selfish passions and violence, replace the rights, the concept of good and evil will disappear.
We agree with the Hobbes idea that a ‘war of all against all’ (Hobbes, 1986) starts to work in times when people feel the uncertainty in the future, fear for the property and life, the decline of the economy, agriculture, commerce, navigation, science, art, etc. Salvation is possible only with the strong government. Many critics perceived treatise Leviathan as a defense of the monarchy. Meanwhile, Hobbes argued that in any form of government – monarchy, oligarchy or democracy – state power could be strong only if the ‘agreement’ between the government and the people is respected. Authorities should suppress the religious and political activities in time if it weakens the state. Only a single solid-state power keeps the state to ensure peace and security of citizens. In this respect, Hobbes acted as a consistent opponent of the division of powers and had many supporters in the next centuries.
Still, we should pay attention to Hobbes’s choice of words. In order to talk about ‘a state’, he chose the word ‘commonwealth’ (Hobbes, 1986). It is something that can be considered completely separated from the head of the sovereign, from someone who governs them. It can be seen as a device or some machine, or somebody, which is neither the people (the people who inhabit it) nor the sovereign (prince, king, ruler, etc.) that provides political management.
Unlike the majority of defenders of despotic government, Hobbes believed that all men are equal by nature (Hobbes, 1986). However, in the state of nature, before there is any power, everyone wants to save not only their own freedom but also to acquire dominance over others. Both of these desires are dictated by the instinct of self-preservation. 'War of all against all' stems from their contradictions that make life ‘hopeless, brutal and short’. In the state of nature there is no property there is no justice or injustice, there is only war, but ‘strength and cunning are in war the two cardinal virtues’ (Hobbes, 1986).
Hobbes shows that people natural desires are the cause of their problems. It is hard to argue. People seek for conservation. Even the fact that they cannot have it do not stop them. If they cannot have it then somebody else will take it. People seek for glory. It is their natural heritage. However, unlike ants and bees, who do not care about it individual and private type, a person needs to gain it as an individual and be higher than another man. This will originate envy, hatred, and finally war (Hobbes, 1986). The state of nature is an anarchy for Hobbes. Everyone is willing to achieve something. Everyone is free to do what he or she wants. Sometimes, the desires of people coincide but, as the resources are limited, not everyone will achieve what he or she wants. Moreover, here we can see the thesis of ‘every man against every man’ (Hobbes, 1986) in full plumage.
In this paper, we explained the notion of the state of nature and its role in the government of the commonwealth. We agree that the state of nature, described by Hobbes, plays the main role in the political theory of the author. People naturally have a desire to outmatch him or her. The only way out for them is to choose an absolute sovereign. Otherwise, they will develop into the ‘war of all against all’. An absolute sovereign is a reasonable way to end the ‘war’ between people. Today, we can hardly believe that theory of Hobbes will work. However, it well coordinated and explained, which ascertains readers in the reality of his plan.
Works cited
Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan. 1st ed. Harmondsworth, Eng.: Penguin, 1986. Print.
