Thomas Hobbes - "Leviathan" | Sovereignty, Fear, and The State of Nature | Classical Liberalism

In this lecture, I'll be summarizing some of the key points from Thomas Hobbes' classic work of political theory, "Leviathan". In this work, Hobbes lays out an empiricist model of cognition, theorizes the existence of a pre-political state of moral license known as the "state of nature", and explains how societies develop beginning from a common sense of fear, the mutual resignation of rights, and a sovereign to ensure the maintenance of social contracts. This work is central to the classical liberal understanding of ethical duty, legal rights, citizenship, political agency/autonomy, and the role of sovereignty. Enjoy!
Music is Claude Debussy's Suite Bergamasque IV Passepied by Jean-Yves Thibaubet • Debussy: Suite bergama...
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/ @gavinyoung-philosophy

[@LittleMakwa]

"There is, if not an actual expression of dualism, a reference to dualism that is seemingly ineradicable from the Western conceptual framework." V.F Cordova. Fantastic lecture as always, I thoroughly enjoyed this one :)

[@gavinyoung-philosophy]

@@LittleMakwa Thanks a bunch man! Always good to hear from you, and Cordova is totally right here

[@ozzycrowley9421]

Thanks!

[@gavinyoung-philosophy]

@@ozzycrowley9421 Thank you!

[@ItHadToBeSaid]

Hobbes didn't get that there is simply no way to have a state that represents us or upholds our rights in any real way. It only holds us in awe. And it's mostly because the state is not a contract but imposed on us.

[@gavinyoung-philosophy]

@@ItHadToBeSaid Precisely! As Gaddafi has written: representation is a fraud.

[@dellh86]

Perfect timing. I am towards the end of book 1 myself. I noticed that the copy you referenced only has 2 of the 4 books. I've noticed that this is how many others read Hobbes in college. Why is that? Are books 3 and 4 not supposed to be as important, or is it just a semester time constraint type of thing?

[@gavinyoung-philosophy]

@@dellh86 I think it’s because, from what I understand, parts 3 and 4 are filled with biblical exegesis and theological argumentation that is more beside the point compared to the more political aspects of the first half of the book. But yes, I think time is also a factor because we’re reading Rousseau, Mill, and a few other theorists this semester. Glad we’re catching each other at a convenient crossroads of reading!