Part 2 - Leviathan; Hobbes. Tosin Onibiyo

Furthermore, as Hobbes has emphasized, three principals that causes men to quarrel and be at a stage of war are: Competition which makes men invade others for benefits and gain, Diffidence – act of self-defense; for safety, and Glory for reputation. To prevent this warre Hobbes believed that man needed some outside influence to keep them in awe, as man in the natural human state without this outside influence is in a state of war of 'every man against every man’. Men must choose to cede their rights (laying exact amount of rights as others) to a Leviathan; a state of Leviathan, (social contract) who must then have absolute control of things and their lives. In exchange, they will receive protection and security – civil rights and law which creates a civil society and civil society brings forth Common Wealth (Respublica) “The only way to erect such a common power… , is to confer all their power and strength upon one man, or upon one assembly of men, that may reduce all theirwills, by plurality of voices, unto one will: which is as much as to say, to appoint one man, or assembly of men, to bear their person; and every one to own and acknowledge himself to be author of whatsoever he that so beareth their person shall act,or cause to be acted, in those things which concern the common peace and safety; and therein to submit their wills, every one to his will, and their judgements to his judgement. This is more than consent, or concord; it is a real unity of them all in one andthe same person, made by covenant of every man with every man, in such manner as if every man should say to every man: Iauthorise and give up my right of governing myself to this man, or to this assembly of men, on this condition; that thou give up, thy right to him, and authorise all his actions in like manner.This done, the multitude so united in one person is called a COMMONWEALTH” (Hobbes, 227).

This arrangement will last until such time as the sovereign is no longer able to provide protection and security, at which time it will dissolve. How can the Leviathan crash or dissolve? According to Hobbes, being taken back to the State of Nature can happen when men who gave up their rights to the Leviathan; and those rights are being taken back or when a man asks for more benefit for example from the Leviathan and another, then another; he also said it to be void when the Leviathan could no longer protect you, no security of your life and property; thisautomatically leads to the crash of the governmental body and then goes right back to the state of nature which is the state of chaos. This is why according to Hobbes, it is impossible to take back rights when laid down to the Leviathan. Therefore, without a strong central government like the leviathan, life is just grief because of man’s daily struggle. This is why he argues thatsecurity and peace is a better way of life. And to obtain and maintain this peace and security, every person agrees to give up the right to govern themselves and by giving the power to an individual, or group, who would create peace and security for all subjects with all means necessary. Hobbes also argued that people after laying down these rights must obey the law in return for order and security.