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European Enlightenment: Difference between revisions
→Thomas Hobbes
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** considered a founder of modern political philosophy | ** considered a founder of modern political philosophy | ||
* background: | * background: | ||
** Hobbes was a supporter of the King during the English Civil War | ** Hobbes was a supporter of the English King during the English Civil War (monarchy v. parliament) | ||
*** | *** Hobbes was exiled to Paris after the Parliamentarian's victory | ||
*** he was disturbed by the violence and disorder of the English Civil War | |||
*** in Paris he taught mathematics and interacted with French thinkers | *** in Paris he taught mathematics and interacted with French thinkers | ||
** Hobbes published ''Leviathan'' in 1651 at age 63 | ** Hobbes published ''Leviathan'' in 1651 at age 63 | ||
* core ideas: | * core ideas: | ||
** the original state of man is no rules, one person against all others | ** the original state of man is no rules, one person against all others | ||
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*** = rule by decree from God (birth) v. rule by consent (agreement) of the governed | *** = rule by decree from God (birth) v. rule by consent (agreement) of the governed | ||
** additionally, under a strong central government, the people will be able to exercise more rights than in the state of nature, when their rights existed but were denied by a constant state of war | ** additionally, under a strong central government, the people will be able to exercise more rights than in the state of nature, when their rights existed but were denied by a constant state of war | ||
* the logic of Hobbes | |||
* humans can interpret the world | |||
* all humans have passions but the objects of their passions depend on the person | |||
** therefore some people's passions will infringe those of others | |||
* therefore, people fear that their passions will be denied or unfulfilled | |||
** Hobbes identifies uncertainty as a dominant state of human life | |||
*** people can't be sure (are uncertain) of their goals or aspirations | |||
*** other people can deny the goals and aspirations of others | |||
* Hobbes therefore reasons that people need certainty | |||
** and that certainty can only be provided by a strong, central ruler | |||
** and that "absolute" must therefore deny people of their passions | |||
*** as those passions will contradict one another, people must give up their liberties, which lead to those passions in exchange for security | |||
*** if given security, people can then find happiness even if denied liberty | |||
* works: | * works: | ||
** Hobbes taught mathematics | ** Hobbes taught mathematics | ||