Free Essays on Thomas Hobbes

Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes was one of the first Western Philosophers that the world had seen. Hobbes’s philosophies marked a departure in the English philosophy from religious emphasis of Scholasticism. Hobbes was born in 1588 in Malmesbury, Wiltshire. His father was a vicar of the parish during Queen Elizabeth time. He valued not learning and only read the prayers of the church. Hobbes obtained his education from his uncle and moved onto Oxford at the tender age of fifteen. By the time he reached Oxford he was already a scholar in Latin and Greek. He left Oxford in 1608 and began his companionship with the eldest son of Lord Cavendish of Hardwicke, later know as Earl of Devonshire. Hobbes traveled the European continent three times in his lifetime. These trips allowed Hobbes to get most of his work down and he usually traveled with a pupil. His first trip he took was in 1610 were he visited France, Italy and Germany. This trip he took with is pupil, Lord Hardwick. He learned the French an d Italian languages along the way. This first tour of the continent did not allow Hobbes to learn his life purpose, but he did gain experience that could help him along his way. His second tour of the European continent took place in 1629 and lasted for two years. In 1628 his pupil and friend Lord Hardwick passed on and Hobbes had no duties to fulfill in the house. The second trip Hobbes took he had a new pupil the young earl, who was eleven when they left for the journey. When Hobbes arrived back he took over the education of his new pupil. Around the time he was educated the young earl, his philoschical views began to take place. It was not until his third trip across the continent that he began to fit in with the other philosophers of the world. The third trip he was accomplice by the young earl, Earl of Devonshire. The trip lasted three years, 1634 to 1637. The trip began a new chapter in Hobbes life, he began to publish books and his theories... Free Essays on Thomas Hobbes Free Essays on Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes was one of the first Western Philosophers that the world had seen. Hobbes’s philosophies marked a departure in the English philosophy from religious emphasis of Scholasticism. Hobbes was born in 1588 in Malmesbury, Wiltshire. His father was a vicar of the parish during Queen Elizabeth time. He valued not learning and only read the prayers of the church. Hobbes obtained his education from his uncle and moved onto Oxford at the tender age of fifteen. By the time he reached Oxford he was already a scholar in Latin and Greek. He left Oxford in 1608 and began his companionship with the eldest son of Lord Cavendish of Hardwicke, later know as Earl of Devonshire. Hobbes traveled the European continent three times in his lifetime. These trips allowed Hobbes to get most of his work down and he usually traveled with a pupil. His first trip he took was in 1610 were he visited France, Italy and Germany. This trip he took with is pupil, Lord Hardwick. He learned the French an d Italian languages along the way. This first tour of the continent did not allow Hobbes to learn his life purpose, but he did gain experience that could help him along his way. His second tour of the European continent took place in 1629 and lasted for two years. In 1628 his pupil and friend Lord Hardwick passed on and Hobbes had no duties to fulfill in the house. The second trip Hobbes took he had a new pupil the young earl, who was eleven when they left for the journey. When Hobbes arrived back he took over the education of his new pupil. Around the time he was educated the young earl, his philoschical views began to take place. It was not until his third trip across the continent that he began to fit in with the other philosophers of the world. The third trip he was accomplice by the young earl, Earl of Devonshire. The trip lasted three years, 1634 to 1637. The trip began a new chapter in Hobbes life, he began to publish books and his theories... Free Essays on Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes believed that the origin and structure of human society could be explained according to the theory that all reality consists of matter in motion. There are certain basic truths relating to human nature that can be deduced from the facts of civil (political) society. â€Å"Hobbes contends that political society arose because the drive of self-preservation caused human begins to leave the perilous â€Å"state of nature† and form a â€Å"social contract† that tranfers their individual rights to sovereign power that can protect the lives of all † (Stumpf, 473-4). Hobbe’s political philosophy is the best theory to prove that man is still with the state of fear today. The State of Nature. Hobbes relates the state to an organism and suggests each part of the state parallels the functions of the human body. For hobbes, humans are the creators of the state. Thus, every action we perform, in the absence of social condition, no matter how charitable or generous, is ultimately done for self-serving purposes. Hobbes examplifies, if he were to give to charity that he is actually taking delight from the contribution and demonstrating his power (****). Humans are essentially equal both mentally and physically; therefore the weakest person has the strength to out do the strongest person. Given our equality, there are situations in nature that potentially force us to quarrel. Hobbes believes there are three natural causes of quarrel; (1) Competition for limited reserves, (2) Distrust in one another, and (3) Glory insofar as people remain hostile to preserve their power (*****). Given these instances humans are naturally in a state of constant war against all , where everyone lives in constant fear. In such condition, there is no place for industry, because the fruit thereof is uncertain; and consequently no culture of the earth, no navigation, nor use of the commodities that may be imported by sea; no commodious building, no inst...