Hobbes’s Leviathan ~ critical evaluation

1. Hobbes’s Leviathan ~ critical evaluation • Comments • 1. Historically, the Leviathan marks an important shift in political thought. The shift is from basing the state on Divine appointment to basing it on natural principles. • 2. Hobbes is often regarded as the father of réal politique. He recognized the importance of raw power in ruling and in international affairs. Hobbes's Leviathan: critcial comments - 1

2. Hobbes’s Leviathan ~ critical evaluation • Criticisms • 1. The issue of totalitarianism. • Hobbes gives almost absolute power to the ruler • But what kind of absolutism does he defend? • What is the purpose of giving absolute power to the ruler? Hobbes's Leviathan: critcial comments - 2

3. Hobbes’s Leviathan ~ critical evaluation • Is power for the rulers an end in itself? • Does the power of the rulers extend to the details of everyday life à la Plato? • Does Hobbes allow for protests against the government? Hobbes's Leviathan: critcial comments - 3

4. Hobbes’s Leviathan ~ critical evaluation • 2. The basis for Hobbes’s political philosophy is a contract. • But the contract is lopsided. • In what sense? • 3. Hobbes’s dismal view of human nature • Humans are basically selfish & anti-social; they are selfish hedonists rationally seeking personal gain. Hobbes's Leviathan: critcial comments - 4

5. Hobbes’s Leviathan ~ critical evaluation • In defense of Hobbes: Humans are naturally compassionate & sociable. But in a social condition without any authority, a few who act contrary to these natural tendencies will set the terms of social interaction for everyone & it will be at the lowest level. Hobbes's Leviathan: critcial comments - 5

6. Hobbes’s Leviathan ~ critical evaluation • Thus the natural reason & compassion of humans is insufficient to create a civil society. • 4. What are the most basic values of Hobbes’s political system? Hobbes's Leviathan: critcial comments - 6

7. Hobbes’s Leviathan ~ critical evaluation • In defense of Hobbes: Humans are naturally compassionate & sociable. But in a social condition without any authority, a few who act contrary to these natural tendencies will set the terms of social interaction for everyone & it will be at the lowest level. • 3. What are the most basic values of Hobbes’s political system? Hobbes's Leviathan: critcial comments - 7

8. Hobbes’s Leviathan: critical evaluation • Suggestions • peace • order • security • prosperity • What values are missing? • Cf. the positions of J.S. Mill & Anthony Burgess (in A Clockwork Orange). Hobbes's Leviathan: critcial comments - 8

9. Hobbes’s Leviathan ~ critical evaluation • 5. Ernest van den Haag and the Hobbesian dilemma • (1) The dilemma • Appeals to individual conscience in deciding which laws to obey or disobey leads to chaos & this requires raw, naked power in order to restore order & this undermines all possibilities of protesting against laws regarded as immoral or illegal. Hobbes's Leviathan: critcial comments - 9

10. Hobbes’s Leviathan ~ critical evaluation • Thus the result of allowing citizens to appeal to their conscience in deciding which laws to obey will be an extremely authoritarian, oppressive government. • “Absolute reliance on conscience rather than law [results] in absolute reliance on naked power” (435). Hobbes's Leviathan: critcial comments - 10

11. Hobbes’s Leviathan ~ critical evaluation • The issue, then, is how can one allow for challenges to laws & yet avoid a Hobbesian style government? Hobbes's Leviathan: critcial comments - 11

12. Hobbes’s Leviathan ~ critical evaluation • (2) Is obligation to obey the law absolute--à la Hobbes? • Three possible grounds for disobeying laws • (a) Anarchy (two representatives - William Godwin, British, 1756-1836, & Peter Kropotkin, Russian, 1842-1921) Hobbes's Leviathan: critcial comments - 12

13. Hobbes’s Leviathan ~ critical evaluation • Van den Haag dismisses: • Hobbes’s description of the state of nature contains some truth • Is factually wrong -- look at what happens when authority breaks down. Hobbes's Leviathan: critcial comments - 13

14. Hobbes’s Leviathan ~ critical evaluation • (b) By regarding only some governments as legitimate & then holding than one is obligated to obey laws only if one lives under a legitimate government • Problems with this position: • What is a legitimate government? Hobbes's Leviathan: critcial comments - 14

15. Hobbes’s Leviathan ~ critical evaluation • Assume the most obvious candidate -- democracy. Even under a democracy, there may be laws which are immoral. • (c) Only some laws are legitimate • Problem -- now we are back to the Hobbesian dilemma Hobbes's Leviathan: critcial comments - 15

16. Hobbes’s Leviathan ~ critical evaluation • How can protest against laws be allowed without sliding into a Hobbesian style government? • (3) Van den Haag’s solution: Limiting protest to three forms (really two) & then laying down conditions for using each form. Hobbes's Leviathan: critcial comments - 16

17. Hobbes’s Leviathan ~ critical evaluation • (a) Conscientious objection - refusal to obey a law on moral or religious grounds, but not claiming that anyone else ought to disobey the law. • (b) Civil disobedience - deliberate, non-violent, public violation of a law on moral or religious grounds, & claiming all ought to disobey the law. Hobbes's Leviathan: critcial comments - 17

18. Hobbes’s Leviathan ~ critical evaluation • (c) Insurrection - disobeying a law or laws because a government is regarded as immoral or illegitimate. Attempting to overthrow a government. Includes violence. • These can be used only if • (a) The amount of social disruption is proportional to (b) the seriousness of the issue one is protesting against. Hobbes's Leviathan: critcial comments - 18

19. Hobbes’s Leviathan ~ critical evaluation • Van den Haag proposes that CO may rarely, CD even more rarely, and IN hardly ever. • Critique • Is Van den Haag too conservative? • Does he assume the worst consequences of CO and CD? Hobbes's Leviathan: critcial comments - 19