Analysis Of Thomas Hobbes State Of Nature

To Hobbes, the most direct form of justification for the exercise of power over others lies in man’s existence in the State of Nature. In this state, man is permitted to do what is necessary for his own survival. This implies an overarching right to anything and everything, including the use of one’s power to better himself (and resultingly worsen someone else) in an effort to survive. Under certain circumstances this right to everything, according to Hobbes, is relinquished to escape the State of Nature, which is the only way to establish peace and security. I will elaborate more on these concepts momentarily. Hobbes believes that in the State of Nature, all men are equal. This equality comes in the form of both physical strength and mental acuity. While strength may seem to be the clear victor in the State of Nature, he states that even the weakest is able to kill the strongest, namely by outsmarting them or forming a group with a common goal of silencing the strong individual. This equality produces competition among men, as all men in the State of Nature …show more content…
He is free to use whatever power he must over others to survive. Hobbes’ Laws of Nature work toward preserving the Right of Nature. According to Hobbes, the Laws of Nature function as general rules that prevent the self-destruction of man and promote survival. The first of these laws is for man to seek out peace and to work towards obtaining it. The second states that if it is possible for peace to be obtained through man relinquishing his Right of Nature, then he should give up his right to everything. However, if peace is not possible, namely because others wont also give up their Right of Nature, then it is not justified for man to give up his own rights. Doing so would be a form of self-destruction since others would be at an advantage, and this goes against the Laws of