During the Time Men Live Without a Common Power to Keep Them All in Awe, They Are in That Condition Which Is Called Warre; and Such a Warre, as Is of Every Man, Against Every Man (hobbes, Leviathan). How Does Hobbes View of the condition of Man
Essay Preview: During the Time Men Live Without a Common Power to Keep Them All in Awe, They Are in That Condition Which Is Called Warre; and Such a Warre, as Is of Every Man, Against Every Man (hobbes, Leviathan). How Does Hobbes View of the condition of Man
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This quote from Thomas Hobbes Leviathan, summarizes his opinion of the natural condition of mankind as concerning their felicity and misery. He basically suggests a natural impulse for war embedded in the souls of men who do not have a ruler, or a king. They are without bounds, and without limits. It is a state of anarchy that he envisages.
He believes that Nature hath made men so equal that one man can claim to himself any benefit to which another may not pretend as well as he. This, taken from Chapter 11, leads us to a conclusion that three things in the Nature of man bring out complexities that cannot be resolved and lead to tyranny and war. These are competition, diffidence and glory. Mankinds self-instincts for preservation of their own well-being, and their natural urges to further their own name and have good opinions held in their regard, will lead them to destroy one another. This state of war consisteth not in battle only, but in a tract of time, where there is no assurance to the contrary.
So this also leads to a vital question that must be asked of Hobbes. Amidst all this destruction, is there a solution, which can prevent this? Obviously, his solution is a common power to govern mankind, for people would be worse off under a peaceful government use to degenerate into a civil war. However, he instantly finds this solution problematic also. Even with rulers who are strict, firm, and fair, complications would still arise, once again due to the nature of man. There would be the continual jealousies that rulers would feel for one another, who would therefore constantly have their weapons pointing, and their eyes fixed on one another. They would be continual spies upon their neighbours.
Liberty is a concept that can be unlimited according to the reasoning of those who wish to exercise it. Each man can use his own power as he will himself for the preservation of his own nature, and is capable of doing anything which, in his own judgement and reason, he shall conceive to be the aptest means thereunto. Basically, since one is governed by his own reason, therefore every man has a right to everything. This can result in total anarchy. There are no rules in this scenario.
I find Hobbes actual conclusion to this predicament highly interesting. He chooses a biblical solution, that whatsoever you require that others should do to you, that do ye to them. It is a highly moral ending to a completely immoral showcase of mans warlike instincts. It does not correspond with the image Hobbes has just painted. It is a dramatic difference.
The poem An Horation Ode, by Andrew Marvell is certainly reminiscent of Hobbes vision of the influence of power, and the revolt of the people, but offers its own stance. In the article by David Norbrook, Marvells Horatian Ode and the Politics of Genre, he comments that the poem has often been applauded for avoiding political partisanship, for maintaining an equal balance between Charles and Cromwell, between the arts of peace and war. (
Charles representation differs vastly to Cromwells. The monarch, who possesses more power than Cromwell, is reduced to meek submission as he suffers his execution that is staged by Cromwell. He reflects the leader who does not represent the values of man, and is overthrown in a warlike gesture. It is once again a Hobbesian concern. However, it is possible to interpret Charles inclusion in the poem as one that Marvell instils with grace and dignity, as he bowed his comely head, nor called the Gods with vulgar spite. There is no shame or embarrassment to be felt by Charles and by executing him in this way, there will be repercussions. This event having been taken place, Cromwells status seems to change. He is no longer the hunted, but as Norbrook once again recognizes, he becomes the republics tame falcon, (Page 157)
Having asserted his leadership and dominance, the reality of regicide has left Cromwell in a weak, vulnerable state, and has ironically left Charles with martyrdom. Cromwell is the Wars and Fortunes son, and in order to hold any power, he must continue the bloodshed he has started. Only this can give him pre-eminence. The same arts that did gain a power, must it maintain. This fits in with Hobbes world view, where war is unlimited in terms of time, it merely