Thomas Hobbes essays

Thomas Hobbes essays Thomas Hobbes was born in London in 1588. After his receiving his education at Oxford he traveled to various European countries, learning and studying different forms of government. These studies led him to the question of why people allow themselves to be ruled. He also wondered what type of government would best govern in England. In 1651, Hobbes recorded his theories of philosophy in his most famous work entitled Leviathan. In Thomas Hobbes Leviathan, he states that in a humans state of nature he or she is evil, selfish, and cannot be ruled. There is no right or wrong, nor is there justice or injustice. Its basically every man for himself. The world is basically in chaos when humans are in this state. Each individuals main priority is self-preservation. In order to achieve this Hobbes came up with a right each individual possesses in order to achieve this self-preservation, the right of nature. In order to carry out this right, certain laws of nature were created. These laws are acts or forms of behavior that ensure ones safety and preservation. It is here that humans, according to Hobbes, form a society. In fact, Hobbes believed that the only reason individuals left their state of nature was to protect themselves from their own selfishness. A sole leader must be chosen to carry out certain decisions, as well as to set laws. This is why he entitled his philosophy Leviathan, because the word leviathan means sea monster, or overall ruler. Once the people have agreed to follow this ruler, they then have a moral obligation to carry out the law. Because individuals alone do not agree on anything, and are only interested in their own self-interests, a democracy is impossible to accomplish according to Hobbes. Therefore, a monarchy is the best way to govern a society. However, Hobbes ...