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Leviathan Human Nature

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Leviathan Human Nature
In Thomas Hobbes’ most iconic work, Leviathan, in chapter thirteen to sixteen he begins his argument for how human beings should live in society. According to Hobbes, human nature is inherently violent and filled with fear. Hobbes argues that human beings are never satisfied with any amount of power which causes a constant power struggle between human beings. For as long as modern human beings have been around, our species has almost always been at war or some kind of struggle with ne another. Human beings often strive for the same end result, whether it be food or shelter, which puts human beings in a constant struggle and in completion with each other. Throughout Leviathan, Hobbes view of human nature is pretty pessimistic and I have to agree …show more content…
As I stated earlier, the right of nature deals with how a human being has the right to do anything to maintain his/her self-preservation. Law of nature is the rule that forbids a person from doing anything to hurt oneself, or take away our self-preservation in any way. The fundamental law of nature states that humans should “seek peace and follow it.” The second law states that human beings should lay own the first absolute right of nature and basically restrain ourselves from pursuing any means necessary. By giving up our first right o nature, human beings can either renounce the right of nature or he/she can transfer the right and give it to a person for some benefit. An example of this could be that you agree to not attack someone if they also agree to not attack you, and thus both humans are transferring their rights of self-preservation.
Hobbes’ state of nature is descriptive, not normative. Descriptive ethics is discussing what exactly human beings think is right and what motivates our behavior. On the other hand, normative ethics deal with how human beings should act and what is right and what is wrong. Hobbes does not believe that there is anything wrong with the passion or desire that causes human beings to be at war with one another. Hobbes states that the reason human beings seek peace is because of our fear of death. The terms of this peace that
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