By Thomas Hobbes’ ideas on human nature, politics and society sparked debates among his contemporaries and later philosophers. Let’s delve into the life and work of this English intellectual.
If we look at Thomas Hobbes’s biography, we find that he was a modern thinker, the protagonist of various controversies regarding his postulates. According to him, man is inherently selfish and seeks to satisfy his desires and interests, which justifies the need for an absolute and authoritarian government to maintain social order.
Prince Charles II of England, a disciple of Hobbes in the field of mathematics, described him as “the strangest man he had ever met.” He thus highlighted the uniqueness of his personality and thought. Join us in this article to explore his life and some of his contributions.
Who was Thomas Hobbes?
Philosopher, scientist and historian, Thomas Hobbes lived in the 17th century, during a time of political and religious upheaval in England, marked by the Civil War and the execution of Charles I in 1649. This turbulent context influenced his ideas, leading him to reflect on the nature of power, authority and man.
This English intellectual became a central figure in Western political philosophy with his provocative and unconventional approaches. His legacy lives on to this day, as his works are still the subject of debate and study.
Early years
According to his biography, Thomas Hobbes was born on 5 April 1588 in Westport. His mother’s name is unknown. His father was a temperamental vicar serving a small church in Wiltshire . Due to a loud quarrel the man had at the parish gate, and his general bad reputation, Thomas and his two brothers were abandoned. They were left in the care of a wealthy uncle.
In 1603 he entered the eminent Magdalene Hall academy, where he acquired knowledge of scholastic logic and Aristotelian philosophy, subjects that he questioned and challenged throughout his life. After graduating in 1608, he began working for the aristocratic Cavendish family. From then on, he associated with the nobility and the intellectual elite.
His work with them spanned several decades, performing a variety of roles: translation work, travel companionship, financial management, representation in commercial matters, political consultancy and contributions in the scientific field.
Intellectual and professional career
Thomas Hobbes’s career was marked by his work in the fields of mathematics, politics, science and philosophy. He met and, in some cases, maintained close relationships with political and academic leaders, both in England and abroad. Notable among them were Marin Mersenne, John Locke , Oliver Cromwell, René Descartes and Galileo Galilei.
Not only did he interact with important personalities of the time, but he also left an indelible mark on various areas of thought and intellectual activity of his time. In particular, his work Leviathan attracted the attention of high-ranking political figures in England, such as Prince Charles II, who appointed him as his mathematics tutor before ascending to the throne.
Death
Hobbes died in Derbyshire on 4 December 1679, after complications from a bladder disorder and a stroke of paralysis two months earlier. He died at the age of 91, an unusually advanced age for the time.
Thomas Hobbes’ contributions to psychology and philosophy
Hobbes based his philosophy on materialism and determinism . He conceived the universe as a great machine composed of matter, where it is possible to explain all events and phenomena through natural and causal laws. Everything, including individuals , fulfills a specific function within this ordered system.
From this point of view, the psychological field made use of Hobbes’ materialism, challenging the conventional postulates on the separation of mind and body. According to the English philosopher, these were not individual entities, but rather the result of the interaction between brain particles and atoms. Let’s look at some of his other contributions below.
His thoughts on man
We are dealing with a thinker who had a pessimistic view of human nature. He argued that people are selfish and violent by nature and that they are motivated by the desire for power and self-preservation. For him, humans show a tendency to fight and compete, especially when there are no regulatory norms.
He also used the phrase ” man is a wolf to man ” to describe his position. However, he also believed in the ability to reason and cooperate, which leads to the search for peace and collective stability.
Policy
In the political arena, this philosopher is known for his defense of absolutism . He believed that a strong, centralized government, led by an absolute sovereign, was necessary to avoid chaos and maintain balance in society.
Such ideas can be traced in Leviathan , where he proposes that the State should be like the mythological creature that controls everything and guarantees peace and security.
However, he also made some pioneering contributions to liberal thought. For example, he argued that all individuals have equal capacity to seek survival and protect themselves, as well as a natural right to self-defense.
Contractualism
One of the main theorists of contractualism is this character, defending the political theory that holds that the State and society are derived from a social contract . According to Hobbes’ political philosophy, individuals agree to give up part of their freedom and power to the State, in exchange for order and protection.
Aside from that, he believed that if the leader could not guarantee the safety of his people, the citizens might see the pact as broken and seek to establish another one with someone capable of fulfilling it.
Relevant works of Thomas Hobbes
In the following texts, Hobbes presents intriguing ideas and compelling analyses that captured the attention of the intellectuals of the time and initiated a radical change in the perception of society, humanity and politics.
Leviathan (1651)
This is undoubtedly considered the masterpiece in the biography of Thomas Hobbes, and one of the most influential in the history of political philosophy. The Leviathan is a monstrous and powerful creature mentioned in the Bible, which protects from constant conflicts. The author uses this analogy to represent the State: an imposing force that protects society from chaos and war between individuals.
This work establishes the principles of contractualist theory, as it presents a brutal critique of the Church and its politics, as well as repudiating the abuses of the court in England. Its creator also proposes his mechanistic vision of nature and the cosmos.
Hobbes discusses the concept of the kingdom of God, but he does not interpret it in religious or spiritual terms, but rather as an idea of a moral and political character.
De Cive or On the Citizen (1642)
This work is understood as the first of a political trilogy, followed by De Corpore (1655, ‘On the Body’) and De Homine (1958, ‘On Man’). It sought to organize the pieces of natural science into a hierarchy, from the most general to the most specific.
Although De Cive was the last part of his system, it was published first because of its great political relevance at the time in the English context. De Corpore and De Homine included the scientific discoveries of the time, while De Cive examines the nature of government and political authority.
Elements of Natural Law and Politics (1650)
Here we find a more detailed complement to his previous work, which we could consider to be its maturation. In Elements of Natural Law and Politics, Hobbes expands and clarifies many of the concepts presented in Leviathan , such as the social contract and the origin of political power.
Controversial from his time until now
Exploring the biography of Thomas Hobbes, his role as a disruptive thinker for his time and a controversial and debated figure in current political philosophy is highlighted .
Thanks to his ideas and postulates, the discipline gained great development on these issues. Did you know these details about the life and work of one of the most discussed philosophers of all time?