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Thomas Hobbes' 'Leviathan': An Immortal Philosophy of Power, Society, and the State

December 4th was the anniversary of the death of the famous English philosopher Thomas Hobbes (April 5, 1588 – December 4, 1679). His groundbreaking work on political philosophy, 'Leviathan,' is considered one of the main foundations of the modern democratic state. Published in 1651, the full title of this book is: Leviathan or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Commonwealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil. In this work, Hobbes deeply analyzes fundamental questions about human nature, society, and government systems.

This discussion today is organized around the main themes of the book 'Leviathan', its historical context, and its far-reaching impact for early-level readers.

Author's Life and Historical Context

“The condition of man is a condition of war, or everyone versus everyone.” — Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan

Thomas Hobbes chose the title for his book—Leviathan—primarily to evoke thoughts of power, form, and the glory and mystery described in the Bible. The main cover of the book featured a quote from the Bible (Job 41:24): “There is no power on earth that can be compared to him.” This quote proves that Hobbes was fundamentally most interested in one subject—power.

In the illustration on the cover, a king is depicted, whose body is formed by hundreds of tiny people. According to Hobbes, the 'Leviathan' (a mythical creature described in the Bible) is actually an artificial entity that oversees the personal desires of the subjects and incorporates them within itself.

Although we largely consider the questions of power and legitimacy in today's liberal democracy to be settled, we must look towards the intellectual journey initiated by Hobbes for their explanation. While the Dutch philosopher Hugo Grotius first proposed the idea of the 'social contract', Hobbes significantly developed these concepts in his 'Leviathan', which were later expanded upon by thinkers such as John Locke and others.

Historical Context:

To understand 'Leviathan', it is essential to look at the historical context of England at that time. England was then ablaze with the fires of civil war. The central question of the conflict was whether there were any limits to the king's power. King Charles I believed that his authority was divinely granted and limitless. On the other hand, Parliament sought to rein in the king's power. It was against the backdrop of this political chaos and bloody conflict that Hobbes felt the necessity of a strong central authority or sovereign ruler to maintain order in society.

Hobbes was not himself a child of an aristocratic family, but his profound knowledge of Greek and Latin gave him the opportunity to become a tutor to the elite, such as the Cavendish family. During the civil war, he fled to Paris and completed writing 'Leviathan' there in 1651.

Main ideas of the book 'Leviathan'

“I propose that the general tendency of all humanity is a constant and restless desire for power after power, which only ends with death.” — Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan

In the book 'Leviathan', Thomas Hobbes presents a vision of a peaceful society based on a commonwealth or a system of governance; and this commonwealth will be possible through a social contract. In other words, the people will agree to accept the authority of a sovereign ruler in exchange for the promise to protect their lives and fundamental rights.

The main themes of the book are:

  • Review of Absolutism or Absolute Power: The conventional notion that the authority of the state is created by God's will is rejected by Hobbes.
  • Sources of Authority: An analysis of the natural and religious sources behind political obligations, religion, and politics.
  • Human conflict: The existing clash between human emotion (passion) and reason (rationality).

In Hobbes's view, the form of the sovereign ruler can be monarchy, democracy, or aristocracy—any of these could be the case, but he considered democracy to be unstable. According to him, the sovereign ruler is not only the protector of the weak but will also act as the censor of society. He will have the power to determine which thoughts are conducive to peace and which are dangerous.

The book has been divided into several stages by Hobbes:

1. Analysis of human nature and emotions (which he has said distinguishes them from other animals).

2. How society was formed, the definition of the state, and the relationship between the citizen and the state.

3. Theological discussion on institutional church or church.

4. A critique of how the Church uses misinterpretation of scripture and superstition to expand its power.

Some minor but significant thoughts from the book

“You do not know what sort of God mine is…I am not astonished; for I believe that, if a triangle could speak, it would say, in like manner, that God is eminently triangular...” — Baruch Spinoza (influenced by Hobbes' philosophy)

There are many supplementary contents in 'Leviathan' that have proven to be highly influential later on:

  • Ethical Value Determination: Hobbes was skeptical about the existence of immutable, eternal moral truths. He insisted that moral law arises not from God, but from nature itself. This idea paves the way for modern individualism.
  • Religious Tolerance: Hobbes believed that personal beliefs should be acceptable as long as people adhere to public norms in the public sphere. This was an important milestone in the development of liberalism.
  • Defensive military policy: Hobbes argued that a state should adopt a military policy based solely on defense, not for offensive purposes.

Harvard University professor Richard Tuck believes that Hobbes's ideas identify him as a 'proto-liberal.' This is because he considered the sovereign to be formed through the people and established the basis of power within the people themselves.

Criticism and Initial Response

Whether consciously or unconsciously, Hobbes made himself a target of almost every power structure of his time through the publication of 'Leviathan.' Religious leaders, politicians, philosophers, and educators—all attacked the book as being primarily atheistic, totalitarian, and immoral from their respective positions.

His criticism of religion and disdain for the church in contemporary England turned him into an enemy of the staunch royalists. The term 'Hobbism' became popular at that time to denote 'irreligion' or 'unrighteousness'!

However, Hobbes did not back down in fear. Although he did not directly engage in the debate, he provided a strong response to his critics in his later works (such as: Behemoth). He even published a Latin version of 'Leviathan' to clarify his position to the educated society.

Achievements of 'Leviathan' and Its Influence on the Modern State

“A man’s conscience and his judgment are the same thing, and, as the judgment, so also the conscience may be erroneous.” — Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan

Thomas Hobbes' theory of the state was firmly based on scientific and rational discourse. Hundreds of years after the publication of 'Leviathan', England has indeed transformed into a true democracy, but the framework that Hobbes established for the state and society has become an integral part of modern political science.

In today's era, while it is difficult to digest the concept of state intervention or absolute power, the reference to 'Leviathan' recurs in various recent debates surrounding sovereignty, identity, political obligations, and civil conflict. From Baruch Spinoza to John Locke, Immanuel Kant, and modern political scientists, there is a deep indebtedness to Hobbes' line of thought.

As long as humans form societies and politics exists, Thomas Hobbes' 'Leviathan' will continue to be read as an insightful and influential classic.