Leviathan is a book composed by the English savant Thomas Hobbes in 1651. The book concerns the design of society and authentic government and is viewed as one of the earliest and most persuasive instances of the common agreement hypothesis. Hobbes’ Leviathan contends that laying out a district best accomplishes common harmony and social solidarity through a common agreement in which people join as one in a sovereign body while simultaneously giving up a portion of their regular privileges in return for security. In Leviathan Parts I and II, Thomas Hobbes discusses his beliefs on the nature of society and man, including his ideas on the necessity of a powerful central government to uphold social order and shield citizens from armed conflict. A social contract between citizens and rulers may be established via discussion about the nature of law, the right to survival, and other related topics; in Hobbes’s writing through his political philosophy, it is arguable that a social contract is a necessity for the functioning of the society.
Hobbes writing in the 17th Century still has a lot to offer students of politics today. His political philosophy is based on a social contract, which he argues was necessary to create and maintain a functioning society (Hobbes, 1987). He famously argued that life in a state of nature, without a government or laws, would be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” His conception of the role of government was based on the need to protect the people from the chaos and insecurity of the state of nature (Hobbes, 1987). He argued that it was the government’s responsibility to protect its citizens from harm and ensure their safety. In addition, he promoted the value of the rule of law, arguing that it would help safeguard citizens against injustice and guarantee that the law was implemented equitably. Hobbes wrote extensively about the interaction between religion and politics in addition to his political philosophy (Hobbes, 1987). He held that religion should be respected even if one did not necessarily agree with its beliefs and that political activities should be kept distinct from religious matters. These concepts are still very relevant and significant to the study of politics today.
In addition, Hobbes’s theories are still relevant today. There is more to be found about the human nature views of Thomas Hobbes, which still hold today. He made the case that since everyone has their interests in mind, strong governance is the only way to maintain peace and stability (Hobbes, 1987). This is true today since many nations still rely on their governments to keep the peace and order. Additionally, Hobbes’ concept of the “social compact” significantly impacts modern society (Hobbes, 1987). According to this theory, citizens should give up some of their liberties and rights in exchange for a powerful government’s protection. This idea explains why people must abide by their nation’s rules and why the government has the authority to enforce them. Lastly, Hobbes’ theories on human morality remain pertinent today (Hobbes, 1987). He made the case that morality depends on human self-interest and that individuals will act when they think doing so will benefit them. This viewpoint continues to be commonly held in many regions of the world.
It is arguably agreeable that Hobbes offers today’s citizens insights into human nature that can be useful in our current context. This is indicated by the following quote “The passions that tend men to peace are fear of death, the desire of those goods required for a comfortable existence, and a hope by their labor to achieve them.” (Hobbes, 1987, Ch. 13). “For the law of nature (which is to every man, ‘that he seek and follow peace’) gives him no security that he will maintain his life by submitting to all persons.” (Hobbes, 1987, Chapter 17). Thomas Hobbes provides various insights about politics and human nature in Leviathan that are still relevant today. Hobbes, for instance, said that everyone is driven by self-interest and that human nature is innately competitive and selfish (Hobbes, 1651). Since people still behave in ways motivated by their interests and wants, this idea is still relevant today. Hobbes also argued that creating a government that can maintain law and order is the only way to prevent the “war of all against all” (Hobbes, 1987). This realization is especially relevant now because governments are still responsible for creating and upholding social order. Finally, Hobbes maintained that in exchange for the government’s protection, people should be prepared to respect the law and give up some of their rights (Hobbes, 1987). This observation is true today since people must uphold their rights and obey their governments’ rules. In conclusion, Thomas Hobbes presents various perspectives on politics and human nature that are still relevant and helpful today.
In Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes makes the case that a powerful, absolute ruler is necessary for society to function harmoniously (Hobbes, 1987). Hobbes states that a “Common-wealth, or Sovereign, is said to be Absolute when the authority thereof is not restricted but has the power to make laws and to execute them, according to his own judgment, without the assent of any other person” in Part I, Chapter XV (Hobbes, 1987). Hobbes contends that having a sovereign with total authority. The ability to execute the rules properly is the only way to prevent a “war of all against all.” I am afraid I have to disagree with Hobbes since a strong, outright ruler need not bother with to be vital for society to work agreeably. Numerous social orders have worked agreeably with no type of outright ruler. Instances of such social orders incorporate the Iroquois Alliance and the US of America. In these social orders, choices were made through collaboration, discussion, and split difference, as opposed to depending on one ruler to settle on every one of the choices.
Hobbes says that a sovereign must be “acknowledged by all the Subjects, to be their Governor, and to have a right to govern them all” in Part I, Chapter XVII. He claims that doing this will ensure that everyone is subject to the same rules and penalties, which is essential to preserving peace (Hobbes, 1987). Hobbes emphasizes that a sovereign must also possess unlimited authority in Part II, Chapter XVII, to uphold the law. The ruler must possess “the ability to order and punish by his authority,” according to him. Hobbes contends that this is required to prevent subjects from enforcing justice independently, which may cause even more commotion and disorder. Overall, Thomas Hobbes contends that a strong, absolute sovereign with authority to create and execute rules without the approval of any other individual is necessary for a society to function harmoniously. He says the sovereign should have unlimited authority to execute the law and keep the peace properly. According to Hobbes, it is okay for a sovereign to have universal recognition as their governor and the authority to rule them all. This is one method to acknowledge a sovereign, but it is not the only one. Elections and inheritance are two other ways to recognize and legitimize authority.
Reference
Hobbes, T. (1987). 1651. http://glücksmann.de/media/files/Hobbes-Leviathan.pdf
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