by Skye Martin

Created on: March 20, 2009   Last Updated: March 29, 2009

The political philosophy of Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) is based upon a Social Contract theory which contributed theoretical foundations for modern democracies. A distinction must be made, however, between Hobbes' belief in the inalienable rights of man as natural rights and the modern concept of human rights as those rights granted by a divine Being.

Hobbes declared that man is fundamentally an untrustworthy, corrupt being who has to protect himself from his fellows just as beasts in the jungle do. Each person finds it necessary to lock his doors against burglars and even to lock his chest against thieving members of his own household. Man is not only so corrupt but also so quarrelsome and belligerent that, except for very brief intervals between quarrels, he is constantly fighting others. There are three main reasons for human aggressiveness, namely, competition (for self-gain), distrust of others (based on the need for self-preservation), and thirst for glory (the need to be respected). Competition impels men toward violence, distrust of others calls for a strategy of self-defense, and the thirst for glory requires subtle diplomatic tactics.

In Hobbes' view, nature's law governing the behavior of all creatures is the law of the jungle, the "law of tooth and claw." In accord with this law that might makes right, the jungle lion seizes what justly belongs to him, while others in turn take what they can, and man must do the same, even if he finds it necessary to enslave and kill. "Every man has a right to everything; even to one another's body," according to Thomas Hobbes', Leviathan (London, 1651).

As indicated above, nature's law allows any person to do whatever he pleases within the limits of his physical powers, for in the animal kingdom "nothing can be unjust." Man must be more cunning than beasts, however, lest his fellows repel his attacks or retaliate. Even the weakest person equipped with sufficiently superior weapons and tactics can subdue the strongest of men. Hobbes pointed out that groups of men tend to be more or less equal in power and that for this reason a relatively weak individual can join a group for self-defense against a physically superior enemy. "For as to the strength of the body, the weakest has strength enough to kill the strongest, either by secret machination, or by confederating with others, that are in the same danger with himself." Hobbes agreed with the old adage, "United we stand, divided we fall."

Hobbes believed that, in accordance

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>