John Thomas Hobbes And The State Of Nature - 1162 Words

Opposite to Augustine, Thomas Hobbes believes that the laws set what is wrong and without laws there would be no right or wrong. In Hobbes book Leviathan, argues government is an artificial part of life. Without government, we would be in the â€Å"state of nature†. In the state of nature, we are in a condition of war. Hobbes argues that in the condition of war â€Å"every man against every man, this also is consequent; that nothing can be unjust. The notions of right and wrong, justice and injustice, have there no place. Where there is no common power, there is no law; where no law, no injustice. Force and fraud are in war the two cardinal virtues† (Hobbes 79). Without any government and laws, there is no justice. There is no room for the cardinal virtues in the condition of nature, as there is only the need to survive. Murder, stealing, and any other action is perfectly justifiable to survive. The right to whatever we want is our natural right and no action is unjust This raises an important issue on why have laws in the first place. Hobbes argues that are motive to establish law is for the security of a man’s person, in his life, and in the means of so preserving life as not to be weary of it† (Augustine 82). In the theoretical condition of war, life is a living hell and is a struggle to survive. By establishing law, we avoid this condition of war and total anarchy. Hobbes argues that we have laws just for our protection and not because an action is naturally unjust. HobbesShow MoreRelatedThe State Of Nature : Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, And Jean Jacques Rousseau902 Words   |  4 Pages　 The state of nature is the state were humans existed before government was ever created. There once was a period were there were not any rules, or laws to obey. In a state of nature there are no social goods. No farming, housing, technology, or education. 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Hobbes wrote The Leviathan, published in 1651, observing the violence and behavior of people near the end of the English Civil War. He believed that monarchy is the best government. John Locke, another Enlightenment thinker, is an Englishman born in 1632. Locke wrote Two Treatises of Government, published in 11689,expressing his opinions on the â€Å"state of nature† and types of government. HeRead MoreEssay about Phi-286 Mod 3 Wa 1827 Words   |  4 PagesIndependence) follows from John Lockes theory of government? Could it follow from Hobbess theory of government? Under what circumstances? Thomas Jeffersons theory of revolution seems to follow specific criteria from Thomas Hobbes original foundation, which was further expanded upon by John Locke and ultimately fine tuned by Thomas Jefferson. To get an understanding how these three philosophies follow one another, we must begin at the documented source; Thomas Hobbes. 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