Thomas Hobbes’ Views on Human Nature Essay

Exclusively available on Available only on IvyPanda® Made by Human No AI

Hobbes establishes a definite picture of what human beings represent. He believes that they do not have special rights, although one can be entitled to everything simultaneously, as any moral order is non-existent (Lawhead, 2014). Humans are egoists who lack sympathy for others, driven by the desire to survive (Lawhead, 2014). Thus, they either want peace or the means to defend themselves, as the natural state is that of fear (Lawhead, 2014). Consequently, humans are willing to restrict themselves to pursue their best interests (Lawhead, 2014). Overall, human nature is selfish, and following any rules would be for personal gain.

Hobbes is realistic in his views, which is reflected in how he treats nature and physical facts. The philosopher does not idolize the former, believing it to be rather hostile, as humans have to survive (Lawhead, 2014). Then, he emphasizes physical facts over a moral order, insisting that people create laws based on reality rather than spiritual ideas (Lawhead, 2014). Lastly, what does not make Hobbes cynical is his advocacy for social conventions, which are the means for survival and peace (Lawhead, 2014). Altogether, Hobbes is realistic, relying on facts and prioritizing a social explanation of the government over divine rights.

According to Hobbes, human beings create a government to survive. They abandon their rights to live peacefully, allowing a sovereign or an assembly to preside over them to make everyone abide by the agreement (Lawhead, 2014). The government alone decides what is lawful to prevent anarchy, which appears antagonistic to the state of peace (Lawhead, 2014). Having a division of power is a sign of weakness, and Hobbes’ contemporary events informed him of its dangers. Generally, peace is achieved by creating a government and forsaking individual rights in favor of one entity to ensure humans’ chaos-less existence.

Reference

Lawhead, W. F. (2014). The voyage of discovery: A historical introduction to philosophy (4th ed.). Cengage Learning.

More related papers Related Essay Examples
Cite This paper
You're welcome to use this sample in your assignment. Be sure to cite it correctly

Reference

IvyPanda. (2022, October 17). Thomas Hobbes' Views on Human Nature. https://ivypanda.com/essays/thomas-hobbes-views-on-human-nature/

Work Cited

"Thomas Hobbes' Views on Human Nature." IvyPanda, 17 Oct. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/thomas-hobbes-views-on-human-nature/.

References

IvyPanda. (2022) 'Thomas Hobbes' Views on Human Nature'. 17 October.

References

IvyPanda. 2022. "Thomas Hobbes' Views on Human Nature." October 17, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/thomas-hobbes-views-on-human-nature/.

1. IvyPanda. "Thomas Hobbes' Views on Human Nature." October 17, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/thomas-hobbes-views-on-human-nature/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "Thomas Hobbes' Views on Human Nature." October 17, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/thomas-hobbes-views-on-human-nature/.

If, for any reason, you believe that this content should not be published on our website, please request its removal.
Updated:
This academic paper example has been carefully picked, checked and refined by our editorial team.
No AI was involved: only quilified experts contributed.
You are free to use it for the following purposes:
  • To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
  • As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
  • As a template for you assignment
Privacy Settings

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

  • Basic site functions
  • Ensuring secure, safe transactions
  • Secure account login
  • Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
  • Remembering privacy and security settings
  • Analyzing site traffic and usage
  • Personalized search, content, and recommendations
  • Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Required Cookies & Technologies
Always active

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Site Customization

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

  • Remembering general and regional preferences
  • Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy.

Personalized Advertising

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.

1 / 1