State_of_Nature_&_Thomas_Hobbs

Colonists came to the Americans to escape the king. They were seeking religious freedom, jobs, the right to own property, and an adventure. First coming across the Atlantic to the Americas during the end of the 16th century, the colonists set up 13 different colonies of Great Britain. The colonies each developed their own government that represented what the majority of people wanted for the future of the colony. Thomas Hobbs and the state of nature played a role in the creation of the governments formed then and also the creation of our current government and constitution today. The state of nature is a “term in political philosophy used in social contract theories to describe the hypothetical condition of humanity before the state’s foundation” (State of Nature/Wikipedia). The state of nature could be considered and anarchy because it was a state without government (State of Nature/Wikipedia). Men had “the right of nature” and could do what they thought necessary for their survival, whether that be good or evil. Because there was no set law, there was no injustice. Conflict would be a large problem in the state of nature and without someone one resolve the conflict, the state of nature would become a state of war (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). Thomas Hobbs was a 17th century English philosopher remembered most for his political philosophy (Thomas Hobbs/Wikipedia). His book Leviathan, written in 1651 established most of the western political philosophy. Hobbs believe in absolutism but learned the basics of “European liberal though” (Thomas Hobbs/Wikipedia). Hobbs believe in the rights of individuals, the equality of all men, and that political powers should be based on the ideas of the people (Thomas Hobbs/Wikipedia). Hobbs “contributed to history, geometry, physics of gases, theology, ethics, and general philosophy” along with political philosophy (Thomas Hobbs/Wikipedia). His belief that humans are self-interested has stood to be an “enduring theory” in anthropology (Thomas Hobbs/Wikipedia). In Thomas Hobbs’ book Leviathan, he proposes the concept of the state of nature. Hobbs wrote that “during the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition which is called war; and such a war as is of every man against every man” (State of Nature/Wikipedia). Hobbs’ believes that once a civil government is formed, the state of nature will disappear, because a civil government now exists to enforce the law. Hobbs concept of the state of nature led to the governments that were formed in each colony. Government was established in the colonies because of Thomas Hobbs and his theory the state of nature. Hobbs theory of the state of nature created our democracy today. Without the English philosopher, America may have turned into a state of nature, a constant state of war. Because a form of social contract was established in the colonies, it allowed them to unite and break away from the unfairness of the king. The state of nature proposed by Thomas Hobbs established American and continues to be a part of our government. Works Cited Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 27 10 2010 . State of Nature/Wikipedia. 27 10 2010 . Thomas Hobbs/Wikipedia. 27 10 2010 .