Human Nature: Vulnerable and Easily Misled (Thomas Hobbes) (OCR A-Level Politics): Revision Notes

5.3.2 Human Nature: Vulnerable and Easily Misled (Thomas Hobbes)

Context and Historical Influence

English Civil War:

• Hobbes's ideas were deeply influenced by the English Civil War, a period of intense political conflict and social upheaval in England. The violence and disorder of the Civil War reinforced Hobbes's belief in the necessity of a strong, central authority to prevent societal collapse.
• Personal Experience: Hobbes's personal experience of the Civil War, including witnessing the execution of King Charles I and the subsequent chaos, solidified his view that humans are naturally inclined towards conflict and need a powerful state to impose order.

Hobbes's Work in Leviathan (1651)

• The Sovereign as Leviathan: The sovereign, whether a monarch or an assembly, embodies this Leviathan, holding absolute authority to maintain peace and prevent the return to the state of nature.

• Leviathan rigorously argues that civil peace and social unity are best achieved by the establishment of a commonwealth through social contract. Human Nature in Leviathan:

• Throughout Leviathan, Hobbes emphasises the dangerous and chaotic potential of human nature. He argues that without a strong sovereign to impose order, society would quickly dissolve into the violent anarchy of the state of nature.

Hobbes's View on Human Nature

Pessimistic Outlook:

• Thomas Hobbes had a notably pessimistic view of human nature, which is central to his political philosophy. He believed that humans are inherently needy, vulnerable, and self-interested, often driven by desires that lead to conflict and competition with others.

• Needy and Vulnerable: Hobbes argued that humans are constantly in pursuit of their own survival and satisfaction, making them inherently needy. This neediness makes individuals vulnerable, both physically and emotionally, as they compete for limited resources.

• Easily Led Astray: Hobbes also believed that humans are easily misled in their attempts to understand the world. He viewed human reasoning as flawed, often leading to misunderstandings and irrational behaviour that could destabilise society. "Nasty, Brutish, and Short":

• In Leviathan, Hobbes famously described life in the state of nature—a condition without government or laws—as "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short". This phrase encapsulates his belief that without a powerful state to enforce order, human life would be characterised by constant fear, violence, and insecurity.

Implications of Hobbes's View of Human Nature on the State

• Necessity of a Strong Central Authority:
  • Hobbes's pessimistic view of human nature—where individuals are inherently selfish, aggressive, and prone to conflict—leads directly to his advocacy for a powerful, centralised state. He believed that only a strong authority could prevent the chaos of the state of nature, where life would be "nasty, brutish, and short."
  • Absolute Sovereignty: According to Hobbes, the state must possess absolute sovereignty to effectively control and manage the destructive tendencies of human nature. This means that the sovereign authority (whether a monarch or a governing body) must have the power to make and enforce laws without challenge.
  • Leviathan as Protector: In Leviathan, Hobbes argues that the state's primary role is to act as a protector of its citizens, providing security and preventing the return to the anarchic state of nature. The Leviathan represents this all-encompassing authority necessary to maintain order.
• Order over Freedom:
  • Hobbes's view of human nature implies that individual freedoms must be curtailed to some extent in order to ensure the security and stability of society. In his framework, individuals willingly give up certain liberties through the social contract in exchange for the protection provided by the state.
  • Justification for Authoritarianism: Hobbes's emphasis on the need for absolute authority has often been interpreted as a justification for authoritarian rule. He argued that, given the dangerous nature of humanity, it is better to live under a strong, even potentially oppressive, government than to risk the anarchy of the state of nature.
• Rejection of Democracy:
  • Hobbes was sceptical of democratic governance because he believed that the masses, driven by their self-interest and irrational tendencies, could not be trusted to govern themselves effectively. This scepticism of human nature leads to his preference for a more centralised, possibly monarchical, form of government where power is concentrated in the hands of a few, rather than dispersed among many.

• Implications for Law and Order:
  • Hobbes's views on human nature also underscore the importance of strict law enforcement. He believed that laws must be clear, enforced consistently, and backed by the threat of punishment to deter individuals from acting on their base impulses.
  • State's Role in Moral Guidance: While Hobbes did not advocate for the state to enforce morality per se, his belief in the necessity of order suggests that the state has a role in guiding behaviour to prevent social decay. The state's laws, therefore, act as a moral compass by default, keeping individuals in check.
• Long-Term Stability over Short-Term Freedom:
  • Hobbes's view implies that the state should prioritise long-term stability and order over short-term expressions of freedom. This perspective aligns with conservative views that emphasise the importance of maintaining social order, even if it means restricting certain freedoms or implementing strict laws.
  • Enduring Influence on Conservatism: Hobbes's ideas about the necessity of a powerful state to manage the flawed nature of humanity continue to influence conservative thought, particularly in areas related to law and order, national security, and the role of government in maintaining social cohesion.

Impact on Society:

• Hobbes's view of human nature also influenced his thoughts on society. He believed that social institutions, such as the family, the church, and the state, are necessary to curb the worst aspects of human nature and to promote social stability.
• Hierarchical Society: Hobbes supported a hierarchical society where individuals understand their roles and responsibilities. He argued that a stable society is one where everyone knows their place, and where authority is respected to prevent the chaos that human nature might otherwise cause.