Social Contracts Thomas Hobbes

THOMAS HOBBES SOCIAL CONTRACT
Thomas Hobbes, an English philosopher, best known for his work on political philosophy, particularly in
his book Leviathan. In this Hobbes introduces the concept of social contract, a foundational idea in
modern political theory.
Hobbes' Views on Human Nature
According to Hobbes, emotions and passions are natural and inborn and reason is artificial and self-
acquired. Hence, man is not primarily a creature of reason but of the passions. According to Hobbes, the
end of every man is continued success and happiness. This is known as felicity and the means through
which a man can achieve felicity are powers.
The individual was depicted by Hobbes as completely self-centered. Hobbes's concept of human nature
is that man is essentially selfish, contentious, quarrelsome, mean, wicked, non-altruistic, non-rational,
impulsive and self-centered.
Hobbes' State of Nature
Hobbes began by describing a hypothetical “state of nature” a pre-political condition in which individual
exist without government or law. In this state, Hobbes argues that life was “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish,
and short” because humans are naturally self-centered and in constant competition for resources.
Hobbes saw human relationships as those of mutual suspicion and hostility. The only rule that
individuals acknowledged was that one would take the power if one had and retain as long as one could.
In this condition, there was no law, no justice, no notion of right and wrong, with only force and fraud as
the two cardinal virtues.
The state of nature prohibited the possibilities of ensuring commodious living or civilized pursuits that
made life worthwhile and meaningful. The state of nature is actually a state of uncertainty and state of
anarchy. Competition, diffidence and glory were the three reasons that were responsible for quarrel and
rivalry among individuals.
The individual was the author of his own ruination. The state of nature degenerated into a state of war, a
war of every man against every man. The state of nature was a condition when political authority failed.
Hobbes' Views on Natural Rights
Men enjoyed natural rights in the state of nature. Natural rights for Hobbes were those rights which
were related to the self-preservation of the people. The right to do whatever they believe id necessary
for survival, including using of force. These absolute natural rights made men selfish and brutal in nature.
Social Contract
To such a condition of lawlessness and utter chaos, Hobbes recommended a state with absolute,
unlimited and centralized powers as the only effective remedy Hobbesian state was to have a
monarchical form of government. He preferred an authoritarian state. He felt that totalitarianism of the
state may be prevented by political obligation of sovereign.
After presenting a horrible picture of the state of nature. Hobbes proceeds to discuss how men can
escape it. The laws of nature are called the theorems of peace. Hobbes has listed as many as nineteen
laws of nature, three of them are most important. These are as follows
(i) Men should seek and observe peace.
ii) Every individual should abandon his natural right to all things (Sovereign).
iii) Man should abide by the terms and conditions of the contract among themselves at any cost.
The theory of social contract is essentially a morally justified agreement made amongst individuals
through which an organized society is brought into existence. It is used as a means of demonstrating the
value of government, the grounds for political obligation and authority over a particular area. Hobbes
argued that the state had arisen out of a voluntary agreement or social contract, made by individuals
who recognised that only the establishment of sovereign power could safeguard them from the
insecurity of the state of nature. Hobbes impels people to surrender all their rights and vest all liberties
in the sovereign for preservation of peace, life, and prosperity of the people. It is in this way the natural
law became a moral guide to the sovereign for preservation of natural rights of the people.
The key characteristics of social contracts are as follows
i)Sovereign in a commanding and superior position; the sovereign, the product of the contract, secured
a commanding position. He was a beneficiary of the contract and was superior to the contracting parties.
ii) Sovereign authority is artificially created; the sovereign was not an original creation but was
artificially created by the contract singed by the people.
iii) Sovereign is not a part of contract, not accountable to the contract and sovereign can never be
unjust; the sovereign did not enter into a contract with its subjects, as such he was not a part of the
contract. And because he was created by voluntary will of the people, the sovereign can never be unjust.
iv)Contract is perpetual and irrevocable; the contract once entered is never ending and cannot be
changed.
v)Minority has no right to revolt. They are subjected to the dictates of majority.
vi) Sovereign; Hobbes sovereign is an individual, a monarch. This is because he was greatly influenced by
Monarchy which he saw in France and in England as well.
CRITICISM;
1.Absolute Sovereignty; Hobbes advocates for an absolute sovereign, which critics argue undermines
individual autonomy and raises concern about potential tyranny.
2. Human Nature Assumption; his portrayal of human as primarily self-interest and self-centered and
driven by fear has been criticized as overly pessimistic.
3.Undemocratic; his social contract is unfair, unjust, and undemocratic. The people forfeit even the most
elementary right of criticizing or revolting against a ruthless tyrant.
4.Question of Natural Rights; it is too much to imagine that men had rights in pre-social and pre-political
stage.
5.Complete Surrender of Rights; it is absurd that men decided to surrender all their rights to the
sovereign, binds their hands and feet and placed themselves fully at the mercy of a sovereign who
cannot be questioned or criticized.

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THOMAS HOBBES SOCIAL CONTRACT

Hobbes' Views on Human Nature

Hobbes' State of Nature

Hobbes' Views on Natural Rights

(i) Men should seek and observe peace.

The key characteristics of social contracts are as follows

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