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Philosophy of Thomas

Hobbes

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Northern Illinois University

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Political Philosophy

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© 2013 Rey Ty

Modern Political

Philosophy

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Thomas Hobbes•He “is an example of a philosopher who preferred the evils of

absolute power to the evils of

life in a society that did not

contain such an authority” (p.

66).

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Thomas Hobbes•For him, human beings are “by nature selfish and egoistic” (p. 66).

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Thomas Hobbes

•For him, “the life of man in the state of nature is ‘solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short’ ” (p. 67).

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Thomas Hobbes• For him: “Society is thus a compromise” (p.

67).

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Thomas Hobbes•The compromise, or ‘covenant,’ as Hobbes calls it, consists of an agreement among people to abide by a certain set of rules, or ‘conventions’” (p. 67).

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Thomas Hobbes•Subject have liberties:

“those things the subject may justly refuse to do even though commanded by the

sovereign” (p. 68).

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Thomas Hobbes•“The end (i.e. the purpose) of obedience is protection” (p. 68).

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Thomas Hobbes

•“a dissenting minority must now acquiesce to the dictates of the sovereign or be destroyed” (p. 68).

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Thomas Hobbes•“ ‘Just’ behavior consists… in abiding by the laws of the community; but since the sovereign makes the law, whatever he does will be law; hence… the ruler is above the law and cannot violate it” (p. 68).

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Thomas Hobbes•“The sovereign has an absolute right to control all opinions for it is his decision whether or not the expression of an opinion will cause chaos in the commonwealth” (p. 68).

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References

• Popkin, R. H. & Stroll, A. (1993). Philosophy made easy. New York: Three Rivers Press.

• Photos from the web.© 2013 Rey Ty

© 2013 Rey Ty

Philosophy of Thomas Hobbes

© 2013 Rey TyNorthern Illinois University

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