Thomas Hobbes Research Paper

Thomas Hobbes was a philosopher from the Enlightenment period and is known to be one of the most influential philosophers of his time and in today’s society. Hobbes philosophy revolves around politics and ethics from a basis of self-interest. He believed that human beings will relentlessly pursue their own self-interest and desire the power to live well and will never be satisfied without acquiring more power. Hobbes developed a materialist and highly pessimistic philosophy that was condemned in his day and today’s society, but has had a great influence on Western political thought. Hobbes believed that all people are fearful and predatory and must submit themselves to an absolute power of the state. He was the author of the Leviathan, which

He firmly believed that if there were no power to keep people in fear, they would continuously fight with each other. He believed that the need for government is to protect us from our fellow citizens. Hobbes believed that all people are created equal, which meant that everyone is equally capable of killing each other. The nature of humanity leads people to seek power and that when two or more people want the same thing, they become enemies and attempt to destroy one another. He said that people are always in a constant state of war and that there are three basic causes. He alleged that the three causes for this constant state of war are competition, diffidence and glory. Hobbes considers human to be naturally narcissistic and so seek to dominate others and demand respect. According to Hobbes, the natural condition of mankind is a state of war in which life is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short because humans are in a war against all. Hobbes believed in the right of nature, which is each person’s right to secure his or her own liberty, or to seek peace. Liberty is the absence of anything that would take away right from an individual. He also believes in the law of nature, which forbids the individual from destroying his or her own life. The fundamental law of nature is to seek peace, and follow