When describing the state of nature, Hobbes famously describes a state of war which is “nasty, brutish and short.” It is understood by Hobbes to be a state of constant fighting between all members of society- a constant war between everyone. However, in Foucault’s reading of Hobbes, he critiques this conception of the state of…
The ‘prisoner’s dilemma’ is a hypothetical situation often used in the context of Hobbes’ Social Contract Theory. It is a seemingly simple situation which carries significant implications which add to the understanding of Hobbes’ conception of the state of nature as a “‘solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short’” (Rachels, 2012, p. 83) state of war,…
Realism can be defined according to various disciplines but In International Relations, political realism is a tradition of analysis that stresses the imperatives states face to pursue a power politics of the national interest. Political realism or realpolitik is the one of the oldest and most frequently used theories in international relations when dealing with…
Hobbes argues that the “state of nature” of man is rules of reason contrary to human instincts. These laws of nature must be enforced by some coercive power, if justice and harmony are to be attained in society, i.e. by the sovereign. The sovereign represents an absolute power and unlimited authority whose purpose is to…
Biography Born in Westport England, 1588 Hobbes’ father (a vicar) abandoned the family when Hobbes was young Graduated from Magdalen Hall 1608 Tutor to young William Cavendish, with whom, he travelled through continental Europe While spending time in Paris, Hobbes began to consider himself a philosopher Wrote The Elements of Law, Natural and Politic while…
Theories in sociology are abstract, general ideas that help organize and make sense of the social world Epistemology Philosophical Roots of Classical Sociological Theory Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) Suggested that people are responsible for creating the social world around them, and thus society could be changed through conscious reflection Was one of the first theorists to…
During the 16th and 17th centuries, England was consumed by religious, political, and social upheaval that included a civil war and the beheading of a king. It was a period of extreme violence, fear, and lawlessness. The theory of natural law – that law is based on divine revelation and that it was put in…
The settlers who came to the New World brought with them a great deal of baggage in the form of ideas and beliefs they had held dear in England. Indeed, many of them, such as the Puritans, came to America so they could live in stricter accord with those beliefs. The Pilgrims, a branch of…