Thomas Hobbes First Three Laws of Nature and the Fools...

Hobbes First Three Laws of Nature and the Fools Objection Thomas Hobbes begins The Leviathan by establishing the idea that all men are created equal, although every man perceives himself as smarter than the next. As Hobbes says: [men] will hardly believe there are many so wise as themselves; for they see their own wit at hand, and other mens at a distance (25). He then argues for psychological egoism, describing mankind as driven by self-interest and, ultimately, only self-interest. This leads mankind to a constant state of war where human beings will pit themselves against each other in competition because if any two men desire the same thing, which nevertheless they cannot both enjoy, they become enemies: (25). Hobbes†¦show more content†¦Also, they transfer some of these rights to a select few members of society that use those rights to maintain the laws of the covenant. An ideal covenant, in Hobbes mind, would be a large, powerful leviathan government to make and regulate laws at a high level of efficiency, hence the titl e of his work (the bible refers to the leviathan as a massive sea monster. Hobbes derives his Third Law of Nature from the second, which states it necessary that men perform their covenants made (31), because a covenant becomes void is any member violates or is reasonably suspected of violating the regulations of the covenant. In order to fortify what appears to be a fragile idea of a social contract, the members of the contract need to set up some sort of governing body that will punish violators of the covenant. The level and extremity of the punishment is important, because the terror of...punishment [must be] greater than the benefit they expect by the breach of their covenant (31). The idea is not only to punish those who break the laws of the social contract, but to scare off individuals from ever doing so. To carry out the regulations of a society, the members establish a commonwealth, which represents the general sentiment or voice of the society either through one lead er or an assembly of them. The Third Law of Nature creates a sound society where peace is