Group+Analysis


 * __Group Summary__**

//**__Ch.__**// //**__13: Of the Natural Condition of Mankind as Concerning their Felicity and Misery__**// gh In Leviathan, Hobbes writes about how and why mankind needs a strong central government to prevent war between men. Hobbes also writes about how if the authority abuses the power they have it's the price mankind must pay for keeping peace. Also Hobbes states that the sovereign has authority to uphold power over matters of faith and doctrine, and if he doesn't he is setting up mankind for conflict. In Chapters 13-14 Hobbes writes about equality, how man kind never truly reach complete equality, he writes about the three causes of war and finally he also writes about the central government that should have the authority over man kind.

In the Leviathan Hobbes writes about the equality between man and man, he believed that mankind is born with equal strengths and talents, for example if one man has physical strength another man may be stronger in mind so both men are ultimately equal.//"NATURE hath made men so equal in the faculties of body and mind as that, though there be found one man sometimes manifestly stronger in body or of quicker mind than another, yet when all is reckoned together the difference between man and man is not so considerable as that one man can thereupon claim to himself any benefit to which another may not pretend as well as he." (Leviathan)// [|DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE]

Another of Hobbes believes is that though men are born with equal talents in their life they never truly reach full equality in their lives therefore leading to constant war. //"And therefore if any two men desire the same thing, which nevertheless they cannot both enjoy, they become enemies; and in the way to their end endeavour to destroy or subdue one another. And hence it comes to pass that where an invader hath more to fear than another man's single power, if one plant, sow, build, or possess a convenient seat, others may probably be expected to come prepared with forces united to dispossess and deprive him..." (Leviathan)//

Hobbes the three basic causes for war is competition distrust and glory. //"So that in the nature of man, we find three principal causes of quarrel. First, competition; secondly, diffidence; thirdly glory."// He also believed that mankind needs a strong ruler to hold all the power and rule them. //"Hereby it is manifest that during the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition which is called war; and such a war as is of every man against every man."// [|COLD WAR]

Nature of humanity leads people to seek power. //"The right of nature, which writers commonly call just naturale, is the liberty each man hath to use his own power as he will himself or the preservation of his own nature; that is to say, of his own life; and consequently, of doing anything which, in his own judgment and reason, he shall conceive to be the aptest means thereunto."// [|CHRIS GARDNER]

//**__Ch. 14: Of the First and Second Natural Laws, and of Contracts__**//

//What are the first and second natural laws?//

The first natural law is "the right of nature", which means that every man has the right to use all his talents and abilities to protect himself from harm and seek peace. "And consequently it is a precept, or general rule of reason: that everyman ought to endeavor peace, as far as he has hope of obtaining it; and when he cannot obtain it, that he may seek and use all helps and advantages of war." (Leviathan) The second natural law is "all men have a natural right to all things". This second law derives from the first law, while men seek peace they must be willing to give up some of their rights. "..is derived this second law: that a man be willing, when others are so too, as far forth as for peace and defence of himself if he shall think it necessary, to lay down this right to all things; and be contented with so much liberty against other men as he would allow other men against himself."

//What are contracts?//

According to Hobbes "the mutual transferring of right is that which men call contract." (Leviathan) An example is giving up the right to kill someone and in return not being killed. Another example would be giving up some power to the government to keep order and peace. "Whensoever a man transferreth his right, or renounceth it, it is either in consideration of some right reciprocally transferred to himself, or for some other good he hopeth for thereby." [|U.S. GOVERNMENT]

"Whatsoever you require that others should do to you, that do ye to them. And that law of all men, quod tibi fieri non vis, alteri ne feceris (do not do unto others what you do not want done to yourself)."



Bibliography ~ThomasHobbes.__Leviathan.__