Philosophy Dictionary of ArgumentsHome
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| Natural state: The natural state in philosophy is a hypothetical condition in which humans live without government or social order. It is often used as a starting point for thinking about the origins of society and the role of government. See also State, Government, Society, Community._____________Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments. | |||
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Thomas Hobbes on Natural State - Dictionary of Arguments
Höffe I 216 Natural State/State of Nature/Hobbes/Höffe: In Chapter 13 of the Leviathan, which is central to the first anthropological part, Hobbes presents a consideration that has been famous ever since under the title of the state of nature. It has the methodological status of a thought experiment. Höffe I 217 With the state of nature, Hobbes does not sketch a historical or prehistoric phase of humanity. Rather, he examines the potential for conflict inherent in the coexistence of rational sensory beings, provided there are no binding rules and no public powers among them. HobbesVsAristoteles: In radical contrast to Aristotle's definition of humans as a political being by nature, the state (...) is not created by nature, but by art. "Homo homini lupus": Hobbes' answer to his novel question has become proverbial as a formula: "The human is the humans’ wolf" (homo homini lupus: from the citizen, dedication). The formula, of course, originates from pre-Christian antiquity and is already quoted by Bacon in the generation before Hobbes. (see below "The human is a god to humans"). Natural State: Because now, in the absence of state power, as the thought experiment presupposes, the comrades-in-arms act in complete freedom, they become opponents in the event that they fight over the same means: people are afraid of each other. There are three reasons for this. 1) competition, 2) distrust, 3) striving for glory. Civil war: Surprisingly, the decisive cause of civil wars, the dispute over religious truth, is missing here. For this dispute does not fall under any of the three causes of conflict mentioned: Oriented towards the salvation of souls, it does not stem from the desire for profit, security or fame. Höffe I 219 Positive Passions/Hobbes: Höffe: Fortunately, in the state of nature there are other passions besides the three causes of conflict. Those who, like many performers, suppress them not only make a considerable cut, since they only take into account the first half of Hobbes' natural state. Nor does he understand how the natural state can be overcome. Hobbes refers to three motivational forces that seek peace: the fear of death, the desire for things that are necessary for a pleasant life, and the hope of achieving them through one's own efforts (ibid.). >Peace/Hobbes. The right to everything in the state of nature proves on closer examination to be a right to nothing. Because this insight in itself lacks any driving force, it needs another factor, both energetic and purposeful, precisely the three passions that promote peace. >Hobbes. Ruler: Because of [his] omnipotence, Hobbes calls him a god, Höffe I 221 but only "mortal" God because of his transitoriness. He claims that the enlightened self-interest, the >reason in the sense of wisdom of life, requires to establish it. "The human is a god to humans": in this context, Hobbes - which many interpreters fail to mention - introduces the competition formula to the Wolf formula. It too comes from antiquity and is also already quoted by Bacon: "The human is a god to humans" (homo homini deus), so it says already in the dedication of the Scripture On the citizen. - - - Danto III 229 Natural State/Hobbes/Danto: According to Hobbes, there was no sign of civilization in the natural state and the story of bare life would have to be a monotonous repetition of beating and rape: If there has been a history in itself, then it is due to religion, and according to Nietzsche it is also due to the "spirit that came into them from the powerless (Danto: the priests). (F. Nietzsche(1)). Sense/Life/Nietzsche/Danto: from here, the meaning of religion can only be properly estimated: "The human being, the animal human being, has so far had no sense. His existence on earth had no purpose; he did not know how to justify, explain or affirm himself."(2). 1. F. Nietzsche Jenseits von Gut und Böse, VI. 2, S 281. 2. Ibid. p. 429._____________Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition. |
Hobbes I Thomas Hobbes Leviathan: With selected variants from the Latin edition of 1668 Cambridge 1994 Höffe I Otfried Höffe Geschichte des politischen Denkens München 2016 Danto I A. C. Danto Connections to the World - The Basic Concepts of Philosophy, New York 1989 German Edition: Wege zur Welt München 1999 Danto III Arthur C. Danto Nietzsche as Philosopher: An Original Study, New York 1965 German Edition: Nietzsche als Philosoph München 1998 Danto VII A. C. Danto The Philosophical Disenfranchisement of Art (Columbia Classics in Philosophy) New York 2005 |
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Ed. Martin Schulz, access date 2024-04-19