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Lecture notes of 4 pages for the course Political Theory From Hobbes at UoW
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Week 3 – Hobbes on Political ObligationLecture
This week –
Individuals in a state of nature should create a state with (near) absolute political
authority – as individuals we should surrender our judgement to the state, we owe
complete obedience to the state except when our lives are in jeopardy. Even states
we regard as deeply unjust – so long as there is basic self-preservation, we must
obey such a state even if it involves huge racial discrimination.
Individuals in actual states should then as a near absolute political authorities so
long as their safety is guaranteed.
The laws of nature
Hobbes discusses laws of nature – rules that should govern your conduct in order
for you to rationally pursue the ends that you desire. Set of principles you should
live by to get your self-preservation.
19 different laws of nature.
One condemns people acting with cruelty or getting drunk. If you care about your
self-preservation you will never get drunk.
Together, the Laws of Nature form a system of rules specifying the conditions for
peaceful cooperation. We look at the first three Laws, which are the most important.
1. First law: fundamental law of nature
We should seek peace. ‘That every man ought to endeavor peace as far as he has
hope of obtaining it (p. 92)’
Peace of harmony rather than one of violence and conflict. It is the guiding
foundation of rationality.
How do we achieve peace?
Conditional cooperation – cooperation on the condition that others to their bit as
well. ‘The Laws of Nature oblige in foro interno; that is to say, they bind to a
desire they should take place: but in foro externo; that is to the putting them to act,
not always’ (p. 110). It is our right to do what we need to do in order to survive
therefore we seek peace.
2. Second law of nature
Hobbes derives the Second Law of Nature from the combination of (i) the
Fundamental Law of Nature, and (ii) the fact that the State of Nature is a State of
War.
Given this – we must lay down our rights and try to set up a government. We
should give up our freedom to produce peaceful circumstances. We give away our
right of nature – because other people will do so as well.
Basically, a social contract
Social Contract:
The way in which individuals lay down their Right of Nature is by making a
covenant or pact with others. A covenant is a contract that involves future
performance by some or all of the parties.
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