philosophy theories
WHAT ROLE DOES THE STATE OF NATURE PLAY IN HOBBES’ POLITICAL THEORY?In Leviathan, Hobbes explicitly sets out his moral and political philosophy with regard to human nature, – that is how humans behave amongst each other as a social animal – the state of nature – the natural condition of human interaction as a result of their nature – and thus his political theory – that of an absolute sovereign in whom the power of the people is invested. Of these steps, (1. Human Nature; 2. State of Nature; and 3. Political Theory) for Hobbes, it is fundamentally necessary that the preceding occurs for the proceeding to come about, and thus, the state of nature is essential in Hobbes’ construction of a political theory. In order to prove this, the following will, firstly, analyse Hobbes’ conceptions of human nature and as a result the state of nature; secondly, discuss whether this necessarily leads to Hobbes’ political theory; and thirdly, if so, does his argument, in its entirety, prove to be both valid and true