In Leviathan (1651), Hobbes constructs the natural men as individualistic, unfettered power-seeking animals, whose free-operating self-interest would force them to live in a disastrous eternal war. ... My paper will examine the role of government and rule of law in the Leviathan and The Wealth of Nations as potential solution to the problem of how individuals temper their private desires in light of public interest. ... In Leviathan, Hobbes perceives man as egoists, always urged by desires for "objects:" "of the voluntary acts of every man, the object is some good to himself&q...

• Word Count: 1845
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Whereas Hobbes did not dealt with the question of property in detail except entrusting it to the Leviathan, Locke shows a great enthusiasm for explaining the origins of property. ... Although for Hobbes the only reason for society and contract is the search for self-preservation, for Locke this basic right is guaranteed from the very beginning with the definition of state of nature and thus the establishment of an overawing power (a Leviathan) is not motivated by the transcendental desire for self-preservation. ... Consequently, according to Locke, in sharp contrast to the Leviathan of Hobbes...

• Word Count: 980
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

"a universe is only a word" (Leviathan, chp,4) Counter examples come form philosophers like Quine.W.O.V (1908-pres) nominalism is rejected and arguments are ignored. ... For Hobbes the nomological argument is beyond question, as he writes " science, that is, ignorance of causes disposeth, or rather constraineth a man to rely on the advice, and authority of others" (Leviathan, chp,4,15:28-29) such nomological arguments allows Hobbes to ignore such issues as class, and social hierarchy, thus allowing him to provide us with the idea that all men are equal. ... It is at this point in the Leviat...

• Word Count: 2082
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

In the Leviathan, Hobbes makes an analogy which parallels the civil state to the parts of a human body. ... The state of nature in Leviathan is derived from Hobbes' speculation as to how people (who are inherently selfish) would behave prior to the formation of any civil society. ... (Leviathan) Hobbes' notion is that human nature is made up of mechanic appetites (towards something) and aversions (fromward something), mediated by power struggles. ... (Leviathan) With the invention of the state of nature surfaces Leviathan, Hobbes' narrative, in which the main charac...

• Word Count: 4512
• Approx Pages: 18
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Hobbes -- a Social Covenant Theorist Throughout the assigned portions of the Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes proves to be a "social contract" theorist, however inconsistently. Through his explanation of humanity extracting itself out of the state of Nature, by developing rules pertaining to property and co...

• Word Count: 463
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Rene Descartes once proposed a tedious accusation about dreaming, and how our senses that we use to perceive what is considered reality should not be trusted fully. In the Meditations on First Philosophy, Descartes attempts to convey the fascinating illusion of always being in a dream without a cert...

• Word Count: 1205
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The source presented provides a perspective in favour of a more individual, democratic form of government where policies reflect actions taken by citizens to hold the government accountable. The thought being portrayed in the source represents the idea that a strong system of government that reflect...

• Word Count: 1226
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate