Hobbes Absolute Government Summary

In order to understand why Hobbes believes that people cannot live peacefully in the absence of government, one must examine his conception of the laws of nature. He begins in Chapter XIV, stating the first law of nature as simply “to seek peace and follow it” (XIV, 322). He goes on to identify the second law of nature as to “lay down [one’s] right to all things” and to not seek more power over others than one would have others hold over them (XIV, 322). The third law of nature follows from the agreement implied in the previous law, that all people ought to honour their agreements (XV, 324). While Hobbes identifies many more, these three are most significant to this paper. Nonetheless, this passage appears to be inconsistent with Hobbes’ defence of an absolute government, or indeed any government at all. If people are to live by these laws of nature, they ought to be able to do so peacefully in the absence of any authoritative presence. These laws are not arbitrary or imposed, according to Hobbes they are discovered by reason, and exist entirely for people’s own benefit and the preservation of their lives (XIV, 321). However, Hobbes goes on to assert that they are improperly called laws and rather in the absence of enforcement they are nothing more than more than a series of …show more content…
He addresses the concern that life under an absolute monarchy is wretched and depressing and responds that any form of government sufficiently powerful to protect their subjects’ lives is accused of this (XVIII, 336) A Hobbesian might go on to say that life in the state of nature is not only more violent, but unpredictable and erratic. While life in the commonwealth may be miserable, the source of people’s misery is consistent and thus, in a way, more peaceful. Regardless of what the sovereign may or may not provide, it is an extension of the will of the people in their desire to avoid the violent death characteristic of the state of