Thomas Hobbes vs. Immanuel Kant
Thomas Hobbes Vs. Immanuel Kant
PART 1: Thomas Hobbes
“Everyone is governed by his own reason, and there is nothing he can make use of that may not be a help unto him in preserving his life against his enemies (Hobbes, 120).” Thomas Hobbes, who is a considered a rational egoist, makes this point in his book Leviathan. Hobbes believes that the means of person’s actions can only be amounted to how it ultimately affects that person. Our moral duties that we perform in the end, all stem from self-interest, rather than being justified as morally right or wrong. Hobbes states that our desires pit us against one another, and the only way to protect our self-interests is to create a common power that protects the people who consent to it.
Hobbes begins by describing society as being in a “state of nature”, or a constant power struggle. All resources are limited, so when people want the same means to an end they are in competition with one another. People are all equally equipped, with a skill set so to speak, that aids them in their endeavor to defeat others with the same purpose. This continuing competition between people is only offset by our passion to sustain peace, maintain life, and acquire commodities necessary for survival, which ultimately supports Hobbes’ theory that people only act out of self-interest. This condition of peaces or liberty from endless turmoil is only met when there is a common power that people agree to follow. Without common power, everyone acting out of self-interest creates a world he describes as, “no place for industry…no account of time; no arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short (Hobbes, 118).” To support this idea, Hobbes employs the use of contracts, and natural laws.
In his first Natural Law he states to “seek peace and follow it (Hobbes, 120)”, meaning life is all about self-preservation, and we must do
PART 1: Thomas Hobbes
“Everyone is governed by his own reason, and there is nothing he can make use of that may not be a help unto him in preserving his life against his enemies (Hobbes, 120).” Thomas Hobbes, who is a considered a rational egoist, makes this point in his book Leviathan. Hobbes believes that the means of person’s actions can only be amounted to how it ultimately affects that person. Our moral duties that we perform in the end, all stem from self-interest, rather than being justified as morally right or wrong. Hobbes states that our desires pit us against one another, and the only way to protect our self-interests is to create a common power that protects the people who consent to it.
Hobbes begins by describing society as being in a “state of nature”, or a constant power struggle. All resources are limited, so when people want the same means to an end they are in competition with one another. People are all equally equipped, with a skill set so to speak, that aids them in their endeavor to defeat others with the same purpose. This continuing competition between people is only offset by our passion to sustain peace, maintain life, and acquire commodities necessary for survival, which ultimately supports Hobbes’ theory that people only act out of self-interest. This condition of peaces or liberty from endless turmoil is only met when there is a common power that people agree to follow. Without common power, everyone acting out of self-interest creates a world he describes as, “no place for industry…no account of time; no arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short (Hobbes, 118).” To support this idea, Hobbes employs the use of contracts, and natural laws.
In his first Natural Law he states to “seek peace and follow it (Hobbes, 120)”, meaning life is all about self-preservation, and we must do
Cited: Shafer-Landau, Russ. "Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes." The Ethical Life: Fundamental Readings in Ethics and Moral Problems. New York: Oxford UP, 2010. 115-25. Print. Shafer-Landau, Russ. The Ethical Life: “Immanuel Kant, The Good Will and the Categorical Imperative.” Fundamental Readings in Ethics and Moral Problems. New York: Oxford UP, 2010. 115-25. Print. 86