Teacher Name. Prof. Dr. Syed Muhammad Ammar Hamdani.

Mobile# 0321-4308548.

Thomas Hobbes.
Question. Hobbes political philosophy is beyond all comparison the most imposing
structure that the 'period of English war produced." (Sabine).comment on it.

Or

"In fact Hobbes" Leviathan represents what is called the modern state." Examine.

Answer. Introduction.

Sabine who follows the historical approach believes that the philosophy of a political
thinker can best be understood if we try to understand the circumstances in which he
lived. It is natural that the conditions and circumstances in which a political thinker lives,
are bound to have deep influence on his way of thinking. After all a political thinker is a
human being like others, moves with his fellow-beings, faces the difficulties and
problems of his generation, thinks over the problems, tries to find out the correct
solutions between individual and a state. This is how the political ideas of a particular
philosopher take birth. This is what happened in the case of Thomas Hobbes.
he became a tutor of the heir of William Cavendish, later Earl of Devonshire. Thus
established a lifelong connection with this distinguished family, moreover, he has an
influence of great minds like Ben Jonson, Bacon and Galilee. However, In the
controversy between the king and the parliament for supremacy, he took the side of the
king as all his personal interests attached him to the royalist party.

Hobbes' writings effected by the Civil War.

Bloody civil war began in 1640 between king and rebel legislators. King Charles.I was
beheaded, Protectorate under Oliver Cromwell was established in great Britain after
abolition of monarchy. Hobbes.had seen with his own eyes "the violence and the
brutality in England during civil war. Thus, The Civil War affected the political thinking
of Hobbes in two ways. First, Hobbes was led to the conclusion that man is an animal
"who is moved under two instinct, fear and self-interest.. Secondly, he was convinced
that a strong and stable government was the basic need of all civilized life, and that can
be provided only by absolute monarchy.
Essential of the social contract theory.

Essential of the social contract theory are as follows:

The state is a result of an agreement entered into the man who originally did not live
under any organization.
History of the world could be divided into two periods one proceeding towards the
establishment of the state(Pre-social/Pre-Political) and other following the establishment
of the state. The first period is known as state of nature in which there is no political
organization like a government. As there was no law, there was no order. People did not
want to live long under such condition. For this purpose, they entered into a contract.

Hobbs, lock and Russo agreed on a point that the state is a human creation. However,
they disagree on certain points. For example, how people lived in a state of nature in the
absence of government, what were the reasons that made them entered into the contract,
what were the conditions under which the contract was agreed between the parties, who
were the parties to the contract.

Political Philosophy of Hobbs.

Thomas hobbs expounded a theory of social contract. He had a mission to fulfill through
his writing to safe England from the instability and miseries caused by civil war(b/w
king, parliament & church). He thought that a strong monarch armed with absolute power
will be in a position to restore the much needed order at that time. Hobbs used his
political philosophy in order to justify and defend the authoritarian tendency of monarch.

Ideas of Hobbs on human nature.

Hobbs starts his political philosophy by analyzing human nature. He came to conclusion
which are as follows.
One , every man is selfish and self centered. Every individual wants to pursue his own
pleasure and desire. Every individual is solitary in the sense that each individual lived in
a world created by himself.
Second, Man also possesses the faculty of reason, this distinguish him from animal.
However reason is passive and passion is always active. hence, passion led man
towards destruction.
Third, Every individual try to compete others. As a result, there is continuous
competition for wealth, power and honor. There is a continuous struggle among man for
power or for supremacy.
Fourthly, Envy and hatred dominates human action. As a result, there is continuous
struggle of all among all.
STATE OF NATURE:

Hobbs discuss his idea regarding the state of nature on the basis of his understanding of
human nature which are as follows.

Hobbes’s state of nature was pre social and pre political.

The state of nature of hobbs was pre social and pre political. Life of man in the state of
nature was miserable. During this time, man was moved to action not by his intellect or
reason but by the appetites, desires and passion. There was a war of every man against
every man. This was not a war in an organized sense. It was continuous struggle of all
against all. Competition, diffidence and love of glory were the three cause of strive in the
state of nature.

Absence of law and justice.

Law and justice were absent. Men had no sense of right and wrong. Sentiments like
piety, charity and compassion were absent. In such an atmosphere, the fittest survive, the
law of jungle prevail and might was right. Force and fraud play a very important role in
the life of the state of nature.

Absence of art and culture.

Hobbs further says that in the state of nature there was no place for industry, there was no
culture, no navigation, no instrument of moving and removing, no knowledge and no art
and society. There was continuous danger and fear of death.

Presence of law of nature.

Hobbes recognize that in the state of nature, there are certain law of nature. Peaceful life
is possible only when man follow certain rules and regulation known as law of nature.
The law of nature demand that no person should harm other person in his life, liberty
and property. Man understand that there cannot be any peace without mutual
cooperation. This is possible only by giving up their natural rights .

After painting such a gloomy picture hobbs concluded that the life of man in the state of
nature was solitary, poor, nasty and short. Hobbs recognized that even in the state of
nature there were certain laws of nature. As men possesses reason, they also possesses
farsightedness. They learned through reason the necessity for peace and cooperation.
They also understand that they would not be any peace without mutual cooperation. The
only way to bring peace by giving up so many natural rights

In conclusion we can say that the state of nature of hobbs has following important
features.
Man was not social in the state of nature.
He had unlimited desire which could not be satisfied.
There was continuous struggle leading to war because of selfishness and lack of security.
Life of man was solitary, nasty, brutish and short.
As there was continuous war. Man’s life was in danger. Although self preservation was
the first and foremost aim of every individual.

Leviathan that represents Modern State.

Hobbes gave vent to his views in his book 'Leviathan' It discusses the nature of Man and
justifies the omnipotent and sovereign state. The 'Leviathan' discusses thoroughly the
philosophy of the modern state in all its aspects which are as follows. .

HOBBS’s CONTRACT.
Hobbs says that man is rational. As he could not live long in the state of nature as there
was a war against all so he decided to establish a civil society . This can be done by
entering into a contract. The purpose of contract was to avoid war against all. Hobbs says
that civil society is possible only when there is an authority. Therefore, authority is
absolute or unlimited. For this purpose, they entered into the contract among themselves
to form a civil society or common wealth which would ensure the security of life and
property.

Origin of the common wealth and civil society.

There are two stages which help to understand the creation of civil society and common
wealth.
One, peaceful life is possible only when man follows certain rules and regulation known
as law of nature. The law of nature demand that no person should harm other person in
his life, liberty and property. Thus, it seek peace and follow it. Men understood that when
some passion led to conflict, there were other which led to peace. Reason guide every
man towards the peace.
Secondly, people wanted a sovereign to enforce laws of the nature. They were willing to
surrender their natural rights which will come in the way of peace. Hobbs says that
instinct of fear is only instinct which compel men to form civil society. This contract also
gave coercive power to monarch which force men to obey the order of sovereign through
a system of punishment.

Surrender of natural rights and the contract.

Each individual agreed to surrender his natural rights and the power to exercise
individual authority. They agreed to surrender their natural rights to common superior and
obey his command. Hobbs says that all the individuals surrender their natural rights to a
person or body of persons. This person or body of persons became a sovereign. The
surrender of rights were total. The individual did not retain any right with themselves.
The sovereign was not a party to a contract or agreement, he was a product of contract or
agreement. The sovereign was not bound by any condition. Sovereign drove all authority
from the contract which could be irrevocable. People have no right to protest against the
authority of monarch. They were expected to render unquestionable obedience.
Consequences of the Contract.

The consequences of the contract are as follows.

The government is sovereign.

Its mean sovereign has legislature, executive and judicial power. . The power of
sovereign is absolute. This is because, the sovereign is a result or product of contract.
Rather, he is not a party to the contract. The contract is irrevocable. In other words, there
is no escape of the people from the contract. They surrender all their rights to the
sovereign. The sovereign represents the will of all the people. Hence, absolute authority
is essential for controlling the anti social instinct of man.

Sovereignty is inalienable and indivisible. No authority in the state has a power to

challenge the sovereignty of monarch. The sovereign is also unpunished. He is not
answerable in the court of justice. The sovereign is the sole judge to decide what is the
good for the people and what is necessary for the peace and the defense of his subjects.
He is legislature, executive and judiciary. Hobbs observes that such an absolute power
need not be necessarily represent by one man. Rather, sovereignty may be located in
assembly of man. However, hobbs prefer monarchy because monarch provides greater
consistency in policy. Thus, sovereign is a authorized agent of subjects. He can not be
punished in any way by is subjects.

Law is the command of sovereign. He is the creator of law and justice. In other words,
sovereign is the sole legislature. Whatever the sovereign command is the law. He has the
authority to hear and decide all the controversy regarding criminal and civil laws. He has
an authority to declare war and conclude peace. Hobbs says that subjects can only enjoy
those rights which the sovereign permits. The individual does not cylinder the right of
self preservation. Such as, king can not compel an individual to kill himself, or stop
eating food or taking medicine. Such a command would be breached of the contract on
the part of sovereign.

Liberty is the gift of the sovereign

Liberty of the subjects does consist in
One what the sovereign has permitted.
Two, what the sovereign has not prohibited and third, right of self preservation which is
retained by the people.
There is only one contract.
Hobbs says that there is only one contract. This is a contract among the people. there is
no contract between people and sovereign. Rather, sovereign is the product of this
contract.
Hobbs trying to reconcile an authoritarian monarchy with political power as drived from
the people. They surrender their natural rights for the sake of law and order. Thus, they
paid very heavy prize for peace. However, hobbs was also an individualist committed to
the right of self preservation of the individual. Sovereign is given all the power only to
protect the life of an individual.