Thomes Hobbes Western Political Thoughts for NET, IAS, State-SET (KSET, WBSET, MPSET, etc.), GATE, CUET, Olympiads etc. (2023)
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Thomes Hobbes: Western Political Thought Its Nature, Analysis, Social Contract (Political Science)
First Social contract philosopher
Important Concepts
- State of Nature
- Analysis of human nature
- Social contract
- Sovereignty
- Natural Law
- Natural Right
State of Nature
- A hypothetical condition .
- People living in before coming in contract.
- A condition of perpetual peace and fear.
- Might is right.
- War of all against all.
- There were no state controls and regulations.
- Every individual is the competitor of the other.
- Living in conflictual condition.
- Every one is potential enemy of the other.
Analysis of Human Nature
- Man is poor , nasty, brutish, savage and solitary.
- Self – centered.
- Has his own concept of pleasure-pain, good- bad.
- An uncivilized creature.
- Presents a dark picture of human nature.
Social Contract
- The life of state of nature forced to enter into contract.
- For perseverance or protection of rights they contract.
- Arrived at through covenants.
- Contract is one way.
- People surrender their rights to sovereign.
- People are the only party to contract.
Sovereignty
- Sovereign can not be unjust.
- Final authority to approve all contract.
- Should not be disobeyed.
- Accountable to none for his actions.
- This makes Hobbes an absolutist.
Natural Law
Natural Rights
✍ Mayank