5. the Natural Condition of Mankind, 6. and the Conclusion

All quotes from http://www.iep.utm.edu/hobmoral/

For Wednesday. Read the two paragraphs ABOVE table of contents , the last two paragraphs of 4.4 Political Philosophy ,

5. The natural condition of mankind, 6. and the conclusion.

Table of Contents for http://www.iep.utm.edu/hobmoral/

1. Introduction

2. Life and Times

3. Two Intellectual Influences

4. Ethics and Human Nature

1. Materialism Versus Self-Knowledge

2. The Poverty of Human Judgment and our Need for Science

3. Motivation

4. Political Philosophy

5. The Natural Condition of Mankind

1. The Laws of Nature and the Social Contract

2. Why Should we Obey the Sovereign?

3. Life Under the Sovereign

6. Conclusion

7. References and Further Reading Hobbes, another man writing in the time of disorder

MASTER QUESTION: If we do not heed Hobbes's teachings and fail to respect existing political authority then the natural condition and its horrors of war await us.

1. Does Hobbes’ of human nature align with that of Machiavelli?

2. What does Hobbes say is the “natural condition” of mankind?

3. In what way or ways are all men equal.?

4. What kind of government does he prescribe?

5. 3rd para. Of Natural condition. Restate in your own words, the three reasons why Hobbes believes government to be necessary> Does this match Dante’s remarks in Purgatorio about the need for laws?

6. In Hobbes’s words, "the wickedness of bad men also compels good men to have recourse, for their own protection, to the virtues of war, which are violence and fraud." (De Cive, Epistle Dedicatory) Restate this in your own words. Then give examples to support your opinion as to the truth of the statement.

7. The first law [of nature}reads as follows: COMMENT ON IT. Every man ought to endeavor peace, as far as he has hope of obtaining it, and when he cannot obtain it, that he may seek and use all helps and advantages of war. (Leviathan, xiv.4) human beings who lack some shared authority are almost certain to fall into dangerous and deadly conflict.