Published in 1651, Hobbes's Leviathan constitutes a political reflection about how to establish an ordered society. In the background of British civil war, Hobbes looks for a political response to disorders which enable the building off a lasting peace. Fascinated by geometry that he considers a gift from God, he thinks that science tells the truth. Thus he aims to apply a scientific method to social behavior in order to erect real political science. Hobbes distinguishes two kinds of knowledge which he calls prudential knowledge and true science. Prudential knowledge is built up from men's experiences. It rests on their memories, and their imagination raised by sense.
[...] Indeed, as it is shown in Hobbes's analysis of human nature, men are not naturally sociable. That is why they need a sovereign who will make sure that the contract and the laws are respected. Even if men promised a total obedience to the sovereign by giving up their rights, they need him to enforce the law and punish the ones who go against it. Then men are not only obliged by their contract but also tied by the law and the fear of the punishment. [...]
[...] Since people agreed to authorize him to command, whatever he does, people cannot call him into account. Furthermore, as he embodies his subjects, his actions are his subjects' actions and you cannot rebel against your own actions. In addition, since the sovereign acts according to the laws of nature, he cannot be unfair. His interest matches with the interest of the community and so his power must be limitless. Finally, the sovereign is free like every man was in the state of nature, and throughout his freedom, men are free. [...]
[...] Concretly, men renounce to their rights and give them to a unic person, an artificial man, the sovereign. By doing so, they create an appease society that Hobbes calls the Commonwealth. This contract does not impose rules to the sovereign but it is clear that the purpose of his existence is safety and peace since when men renounce to their power to say what is good or bad, they keep their claim for peace and safety. From the moment when men covenanted, they have to respect their word. [...]
[...] Indeed, men are moved by their self interest and, endowed with reason; they will try to have more and more. That is how they finally join a race for honour and power. This individual rationality leads to a fight of every man against every other because all are equal and thus compete for the same goods, especially for power which is zero-sum. It ends in a state of war also called the state of nature where men are tortured by their fears. [...]
[...] By developping this scientific, systematic reflexion that he wants to be ironclad, he tries to persuade his fellows that peace is their first interest, even if it implies an absolut power. Once the social contract implemented, it is always more interesting for a man to keep his word than to break it. Men are finally led to society because of the state of war where every one is acting according to his own interest which does not match with the common interest. [...]
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