Thomas Hobbes

 Thomas Hobbes

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The Concept Of The State Of Nature, That Is, The Human Condition Prior To The Arbitration Of Civil Society, Is Derived From The Nature Of Man, His Basic Psycho-Physical Character, Sensations, Feelings, Appetite And Behaviour.   Like All Other Things In Nature, Man Is Primarily A Body Governed By The Law Of Motion That Pervades The Entire Physical World.  

What is the difference between State Of Nature And Natural Rights in Political Science ?
 Hobbes Says That "In The State Of Nature, We Find Three Principle Causes Of Conflict.   First, Competition; Second, Difference; Third, Glory.   First, Men Attack For Profit; Second, For Security; And Third, For Prestige.  " The Combined Effect Of The Factors Mentioned Above Is That The State Of Nature Is Every Man's War Against Every Man In Which Man's Life Is "Solitary, Poor, Bad, Cruel And Short".   There Cannot Be Morality, Justice, Industry And Civilization In This State.   In This Situation, However, There Is One Right: The Natural Right Of Nature, Of Every Soul To Everything, Even To Each Other's Life .  
 It Is Generally Believed That The Basis Of Hobbes' State Of Nature Lies In His Theory Of The Psychological Ego.   This View Has Been Strongly Challenged By Some Authors On The Grounds That Hobbes Regards Others With Altruistic Motives And Qualities Such As Empathy, Kindness, Kindness, Charity, Benevolence, Etc.  

The Laws Of Nature And The Covenant: After Presenting A Terrifying Picture Of The State Of Nature, Hobbes Proceeds To Discuss How Humans Can Avoid It.   In Addition To Being A Slave Of Passion, Mal Is Also Endowed With Logic, A Faculty That Guides Him To Measures Which, If Followed Sincerely By All, Can Lead To Peace And Security.   The Unbridled Pursuit Of Selfishness Leads To War, But Rational Self-Preservation Not Only Avoids The Deadly Risk Of War, But Will Be More Effective In Obtaining Each Individual The Necessary Means Of Protection.    Hobbes Has No Philosophy Of Sum Bonum.   According To Him, The Ultimate Concern Of Man Is To Avoid Sanam Ointment.  
In Order To Secure His Defense From The State Of Nature, Persons Renounce Their Natural Rights To All Things, And By Consensus, A Third Person Or Body Of Persons To Enforce A Contract By Use Of Force Provided.   And Keeping All Of Them In Amazement, And I Attribute All His Works To Him.   That The Sovereign Is Not A Party To The Covenant To Be Relieved Of Any Liability.   It Is Sovereignty By Institution.   

In Addition, Hobbes Also Speaks Of Sovereignty By Acquisition Or Conquest.   In This Second Form Of Building A Commonwealth, Individuals Accept The Conqueror's Rule In Exchange For Protection And The Victor, By Implication, Enters Into A Contract With The Defeated To Provide Security In Exchange For Obedience.  
According To Hobbes, Sovereignty Is The Rights And Duties Of Sovereignty, Absolute, Indivisible, Indivisible And Eternal.   It Is Not Limited Either By The Rights Of The Subjects Or By Customary And Statutory Law.   The Sovereign Is Naturally Bound To Act In Accordance With Natural Law, But He Alone Is The Interpreter Of This Law And None Of His Actions Can Be Challenged On The Ground That It Violates Logic And Justice.   Justice Consists Of Acting According To Promises Made, And Promised By The Sovereign.
Natural Law Or Customs And Traditions Acquire The Status Of Law Only When Willed And Ordered By The Sovereign.   Hobbes Marked A Radical Departure From Medieval Tradition And The Position Of Sir Edward Coke, Who Advocated The Supremacy Of Common Law, Against The Authority Of Both Parliament And The King.  

John Locke views on state of Nature: 
State Of Nature And Natural Rights 
Thus We See That Natural Law Is An Integral Part Of Locke's Moral And Political Theory.   It Is Central To His Conception Of The State Of Nature As Well As Civil Society.   The State Of Nature, As We Know It, Is The Storehouse Of Trade Of All Contract Principles Of The State.   It Was Conceived As A State Before The Establishment Of A Political Society.   In Locke's Version It Is Pre-Political, Though Not Pre-Social, As Men Are Essentially Social By Nature. 
   
 These Rights Are Non-Transferable And Non-Violent Because They Are Derived From The Law Of Nature Which Is The Cause Of God.   Everyone Not Only To Preserve Himself Rather Bound By Reason To Preserve.   All Mankind, In So Far As Its Own Protection Does Not Come Into Conflict With It.   Again, Men Are Free And Equal And Are Generally Regarded As Superior To None Whose Orders They Are Obliged To Obey.   Everyone Judges His Actions.   Although The Natural Condition Is A State Of Liberty, It Is Not A Condition Of Licentiousness.  

 Criticism: These Authors Believe That The State Of Nature Described In Locke As A State Of "Peace, Goodwill, Mutual Aid And Protection" Would Have Become A State Of War Due To The 'Operation Of Passion' Upon Analysis.    A Condition For Which The Creation Of Civil Society Is The Only Solution.
 Locke's Conceptual Interpretation Of The Capitalist Economy And The Dictatorship Of The Bourgeoisie Has Been Challenged By Isaiah Berlin, Alan Ryan, Martin Seliger, Richard Ashcraft,  John Dunn And Others.

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