Thomas Hobbes And The Natural Condition Of Mankind Essay

Introduction With these three authors, they all have the same opinion on the social contract. Thomas Hobbes, James Madison, and Plato all believed that having an absolute sovereign is what will make a society the most successful. This paper seeks to point out the distinct visons of absolute sovereignty that Hobbes, Madison, and Plato articulated by unpacking the central premises of each argument, pitting them against each other through comparing and contrasting. Thomas Hobbes View In the Leviathan, Hobbes tries to prove why the Leviathan is necessary for preserving peace and preventing civil war. In Book I of chapter XIII, Of the Natural Condition of Mankind, as concerning their Felicity, and Misery, Hobbes talks about the three principal causes of quarrel, competition, diffidence, and glory. The first, competition, is for gain. Hobbes describes it as,† The first use violence, to make themselves masters of other men s persons, wives, children, and cattle†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Hobbes Chapter 13). In other words, competition causes men to use violence to steal from one another, which leads to war. Diffidence is described as safety, and the final cause of fighting is glory, which is reputation. Hobbes says in the text, â€Å"the third, for trifles, as a word, a smile, a different opinion, and any other sign of undervalue, either direct in their persons or by reflection in their kindred, their friends, their nation, their profession, or their name† (Hobbes Chapter 13).Show MoreRelatedThe Natural Condition Of Mankind By Thomas Hobbes1790 Words   |  8 Pages Thomas Hobbes is a 17th century political philosopher whose book, Leviathan, is regarded as the founder of modern Western political philosophy. This book forms the basis of his popular social contract theory as well as his understanding of human beings. He describes the functions of human beings whilst in the state of nature. The Hobbesian the state of nature is essentially the â€Å"natural condition of mankind† (Wootton 158). 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