"Scientia potentia est" or “Knowledge is powerful.” Thomas Hobbes, a 17th century philosopher, wrote this phrase in his book, “Leviathan” that he published during the English Civil War in 1651. This book has become known as one of the most influential philosophical texts of its time. Hobbes wrote it based on fear he was having during the war so his aim was to show the essential need for a powerful authority to avert the evils of war. Hobbes predicts how life would be with the absence of government, a situation that he calls the state of nature. In this life every person would be at war with one another because every person would have a right to everything in the world. These ideas were based on how Hobbes saw the mechanics of the universe and
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He asserts that there are two types of internal motions. One is vital motion or involuntary bodily functions and the other is voluntary motion which one can control themselves. Humans do not have control over their vital motions but our voluntary motions are based on thoughts about our appetites and aversions. He points out the roots of voluntary motion as imagination and thought which turns into action. The motion which occurs internally to make the body move is called endeavours. Hobbes explained that “this endeavour, when it is toward something which causes it, is called ‘appetite,’ or ‘desire,’... And, when the endeavour is fromward something, it is generally called ‘aversion.’ “ Therefore an appetite sends us in the direction of our desires, whereas an aversion keep us away from undesired ends. These ideas are caused by a process and transfer of motion in the body that get sent to the brain. These appetites and aversion gave Hobbes an interpretation of human nature. He then distinguishes appetites and aversion that humans are born with versus the ones that are affected by society and culture. The ones influenced by society and culture might not necessarily be essential to us, simply just materials we think we need because of our surroundings. This shows that though we make sense of the world through our thoughts, our senses could be wrong though they appear true to
He asserts that there are two types of internal motions. One is vital motion or involuntary bodily functions and the other is voluntary motion which one can control themselves. Humans do not have control over their vital motions but our voluntary motions are based on thoughts about our appetites and aversions. He points out the roots of voluntary motion as imagination and thought which turns into action. The motion which occurs internally to make the body move is called endeavours. Hobbes explained that “this endeavour, when it is toward something which causes it, is called ‘appetite,’ or ‘desire,’... And, when the endeavour is fromward something, it is generally called ‘aversion.’ “ Therefore an appetite sends us in the direction of our desires, whereas an aversion keep us away from undesired ends. These ideas are caused by a process and transfer of motion in the body that get sent to the brain. These appetites and aversion gave Hobbes an interpretation of human nature. He then distinguishes appetites and aversion that humans are born with versus the ones that are affected by society and culture. The ones influenced by society and culture might not necessarily be essential to us, simply just materials we think we need because of our surroundings. This shows that though we make sense of the world through our thoughts, our senses could be wrong though they appear true to