Questions:
1. Hobbes describes what he calls the “natural condition” of human beings living amongst one another. Explain what you think he means by this expression. What does this “condition” include and not include in terms of the relationship of those in it to the natural world and to each other? What does he mean when he says the “natural condition” is one where “men live without a common power to keep them all in awe”?Is this “natural condition” a state of peace or conflict? How do people relate to each other in this condition? Are they friends, enemies or something in between? Are we equal or unequal?
2. Define: Paragraph [#] indicated:
a. “secret machination” [1]
b. “prudence” [2]
c. “confederacy” [1]
d. “diffidence” [4]
e. “wiles” [4]
f. “commodious” [9]&[14]
g. “dissociate” [10]
3. What role does power play in our relationships with one another as Hobbes describes it in terms of having the same, greater or lesser amounts of it?
4. What does Hobbes identify as the 3 primary causes of conflict between people in this natural condition?
5. The title of the chapter tell us Hobbes discuss our “natural condition” as it relates to our “felicity” and/or “misery”. How does he describe this natural condition in terms of whether it is happy or miserable? Cite examples.
6. Is there morality or a set of rules/laws of conduct in this situation? What are we “allowed” to do in this condition? Is there anything that puts limits on what we can do?
What does Hobbes mean when he makes the following related claims:
“…in such a condition every man has a right to do anything, even to one another’s body.” (p. 80 not included)
“For where no covenant hath preceded, there hath no right been transferred, and every man has right to everything, and consquently, no action can be unjust.” (p. 89)
“To this war of every man against every man, this also consequent; that nothing can be imjust. The notions of right and, wrong, justice and injustice, have there no place. Where there is no common power, there is no law; where no law, no injustice.” (p. 78.)
8. What does Hobbes mean when he says the following:
“Therefore, before the names of just and unjust can have place, there must be some coercive power to compel men equally to the performance of their covenants, by the terror of some punishment greater than the benefit they expect by the breach of their covenant…” (p. 89).
9. Do you agree that Hobbes’ portrait is an accurate description of human nature and our relations? Why or why not?
10. Is Hobbes’ perspective on human nature more like the neighbor or the narrator of “Mending Wall”?
