Thomas Hobbes & Leviathan: State, Power, and Society

Thomas Hobbes: Life and Intellectual Journey

Thomas Hobbes was not an aristocrat. His father was an Anglican priest, which explains why he could have children. This background placed him within the bourgeoisie. Priests, much like modern civil servants, lawyers, or doctors, earned their living through merit, such as the ability to read and interpret texts.

He studied the standard curriculum at Oxford: law, arithmetic, and grammar. However, he always maintained a keen interest in medicine. Hobbes relied on the aristocratic Cavendish family, who financed his studies. This was a common practice among the aristocracy – supporting clever bourgeois individuals in a rapidly changing world. The Cavendish family facilitated Hobbes's access to power, recognizing that his ideas aligned with royalist sentiments and understanding that intellectual prowess was not exclusive to the aristocracy.

Hobbes eventually went into exile. Although he consistently supported the King, he ultimately managed to upset him. Furthermore, Hobbes alienated many powerful figures within the Royalist faction. He was later permitted to return and live a quiet, peaceful life after his exile.

Leviathan (1651): Core Concepts of the Sovereign State

Leviathan can easily be considered a continuation of Machiavelli's ideas, asserting that the state fundamentally embodies violence. The iconic image of the Leviathan depicts Hobbes formed by the people of the city, signifying that they collectively hold power over the city and even dominate ecclesiastical authority (represented by what Hobbes holds in his hand). Therefore, according to Leviathan, power originates from the people. This concept greatly annoyed the Royalists, who believed legitimacy had to come from God. The crown, also depicted as composed of people, represented power, indicating that individuals cede a portion of their power to the state.

Anthropological Pessimism

Hobbes is widely considered an anthropological pessimist. He argued that in the absence of government, there is radical anarchy and absolute liberty, meaning individuals can do whatever they want. Consequently, if the Leviathan collapses, anarchy inevitably takes its place.

Key Principles of Leviathan

• Scientific Materialism

  • Physics serves as the starting point, applying reason to establish a new state based on empiricism.
  • He explicitly rejects the "kingdom of darkness", which he associated with ignorance and superstition.
  • Fear is presented as the origin of religion. Hobbes believed religion was based on fear and superstition, suggesting that belief in God often arises from feelings of fear.

• Loyalty to Sovereign Power

  • Hobbes advocated for secularization, which led to his falling out with the Royalists. He was deeply attached to the notion of strong, centralized states.
  • His philosophy embraced utilitarianism, focusing on the greatest good for the greatest number, often through order.
  • The Leviathan's key characteristic is its protective and preserving function. It is designed to be self-sufficient and too powerful to be easily removed, ensuring stability.

Hobbes observed that every time an established state disappeared, war and death resulted. For him, the Leviathan is synonymous with the state. The primary source of the state's legitimacy is its very existence. He argued that it was better to have a slightly authoritarian state than to have no state at all.