Thomas Hobbes

1. “[…]the use of Lawes … is not to bind the People from all Voluntary actions; but to direct and keep them in such a motion, as not to hurt themselves by their own impetuous desires, rashnesse, or indiscretion, as hedges are set, not to stop Travelleres but to keep them in the way. And therefore a Law that is not Needfull, having not the true end of a law, is not Good” (…) (Leviathan); There be few laws, few prohibitions, and those too such, that except they were forbidden, there could be no peace” Th. Hobbes, De Cive, cit. em David Van Mill, “Hobbes and the Limits of Freedom”, paper prepared for the Australian Political Studies Association, 4-6-October 2000. “[…]but they have no reason to think he will, unless it be for His own profit; which cannot be, for he loves His own power; and what becomes of His power when His subjects are destroyed or weakened, by whose multitude and strength he enjoys his power and very one of His subjects His fortune? And lastly, whereas they sometimes say the King is bound, not only to cause his laws to be observed, but also to observe them himself; I think the King causing them to be observed is the same thing as observing them himself[…] Th. Hobbes, Dialogue between a Philosopher and a Student , cit. em David Van Mill, “Hobbes and the Limits of Freedom”, paper prepared for the Australian Political Studies Association, 4-6-October 2000. Thomas Hobbes