Political Philosophy OF THOMAS HOBBES 1588—1679 BY PROFESSOR QAYUM MANGI

Political Philosophy OF THOMAS HOBBES 1588—1679

According to Prof. Sabine "Hobbes was in fact the first of the great modern philosophers who attempted to bring political theory into intimate relation with a thorough modern system of thought, and human behaviour both its individual and social aspects.(G.H. Sabine: A History of Political Theory

EARLY Life

Hobbes was born during the extraordinary timorousness era which marked his whole future political life. Hobbes received his early education in Wiltshire, a place at Malmesbury, where he was born. At the age of fifteen years, he joined Oxford. He got the degree of graduation at the age of nineteen. He became tutor to the heir William Cavendish who later on became Earl of Devonshire. His contact with a royal family brought him into contact with most important personalities of the period which left indelible influences on his thinking.

Hobbes left England, his spiritual home during the horrors of civil war and was forced to take refuge in France, where he joined the supporters of royal absolutism. He lived for about twenty years on the continent, chiefly in France. During his stay on that continent, he met many distinguished philosophers and studied many forms of government. It was this period in which he wrote his greatest book "The Leviathan" published in 1651. Prof. Oakeshoff holds, "the Leviathan is the greatest, perhaps the sole, masterpiece of political philosophy in the English language".

In the history of political thought Hobbes was the first English philosopher who produced comprehensive work on political philosophy and made valuable contributions to it. Amids the political wrangling in England during the middle of 17th century, Hobbes built up a systematic philosophy of state, taking his stand neither on tradition nor on theology but on his study of human nature. It was the crucial period when upholders of constitutional rule were fiercely fighting for the annihilation of the supporters of Divine Right of Kings. Hobbes saw the miserable condition of his beloved country and ardently advocated for the maintenance of authority and order, and he constructed a system of strong and irresponsible sovereign government on the basis of the then very popular doctrine of social contract.

Hobbes's place in the history of Political Philosophy:

This is an admitted fact that Hobbes wielded a considerable influence on the succeeding generations by making valuable contributions to the history of political thought. His main contributions are as follows:

1. He is the first political philosopher with the clear and scientific approach towards doctrine of absolute unlimited sovereignty of the state. Before him, the concept of sovereignty, was properly developed and strongly pleaded even by Machiavelli, Bodin and Grotius, but it was Hobbes who gave it a final touch acceptable even today.

2. Hobbes is regarded as the champion of fullfledged absolutism, but he never lost the sight of human welfare and prosperity. The aim for establishing a state was to provide individuals the security of their lives and possessions.

3. Hobbes's doctrine of absolutism or his complete divorce of politics and religion made him eminent political thinker, but his 'Scientific materialism' gave him an important place in the long line of political philosophers.

4. Hobbes gave a novel treatment to natural laws. This treatment made him worthy of being called as the father of modern political philosophy.

5. Hobbes's absolutism or the conflict of unlimited sovereignty was more extreme than claimed for the Popes in the Middle Ages, Yet he was an individual in so far as he believed in the natural equality of men. The most distinctive contribution of Hobbes to political philosophy lies in his deriving logically from a mass of free and equal individuals the concept of an omnipotent state. Prof. Sabine considererd Hobbes as a greatest writer on political philosophy that the English speaking people have ever produced".

Positive points of Hobbes political philosophy

Hobbes as a realist was first to see humans not as angels but as driven by fear, desire, and power. He was Father of concept of Modern State & Sovereignty. He clearly define concept of sovereignty as supreme indivisible and absolute authority,. This idea became basis of modern nation-state after Westphalia 1648.

He invented modern concept of social contract made by people through agreement for protection. This paved way for Locke, Rousseau, and modern democracy.

He taught that first purpose of government is to save people from anarchy and violent death. In state of nature, all humans are equal, simultaneously equally vulnerable. He separated politics from religion, gave Sovereign supremacy over Church. He ended religious wars in Europe and laid foundation for secular state. Even his absolute sovereign must rule by published laws, not arbitrary whim. Hobbes may be harsh, but he gave us three permanent gifts that aaree idea of sovereignty, the idea of social contract, and the idea that order is precondition of liberty.

Gettle writes, "The theory of Hobbes had little immediate following in English political thought, although it probably influenced Cromwell to assume dictatorial power. His doctrines were not revived in England until the second half of the 18th century, in the works of Bentham and Austin.

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