Absolutism and Leviathan I: The State of Nature

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Absolutism and Leviathan I The State of Nature

• Thomas Hobbes

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Overview

• Psychological Egoism
• Equality
• The State of Nature

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Psychological Egoism

• The Question Why do people do the things they
  do?
• The Egoist Answer Whenever a person does
  anything, it is for some perceived personal
  benefit.
• Corrollary No one will do anything unless there
  is something in it for him or her.
• This is Hobbess basic assumption about human
  nature.

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Equality

• Factual vs. Moral Equality
• Hobbes thinks people are equal in fact.
• Varieties of Equality
• Equality of Physical Strength
• Equality of Wit
• Equality of Ambition
• The Evidence about Wit How Smart are You?

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Life in the State of Nature

• Sources of Conflict
• Competition
• Diffidence
• Glory
• The War of All Against All
• Actual Fighting
• Readiness to Fight
• Justice in the State of Nature
• Solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short

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Review Questions

• What is Hobbes view of human motivation?
• What is the State of Nature?
• How does Hobbes describe life in the State of
  Nature?
• Why does he think life in the State of Nature
  would be like that?