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Introduction to Politics and International Studies Tobias Müller, Department of Politics and International Studies
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Why and how do societies come together? 2 Hobbes and the origin of contract theory
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1.Historical Background: ”Age of discovery,” Civil war in England and mainland Europe 2.Matter in motion: the scientific method 3.Leviathan: State of nature and laws of nature 3 Overview
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Thomas Hobbes – What is politics and why do we need it? 1588-1679 1651: Leviathan: Social Contract Theory 4
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14001700 Age of Discovery (1415-1700) Portugal England Hobbes (1588-1679) Copernicus (1473-1543) Italy Galileo (1564-1642) Prince Henry the Navigator (1394-1460) Columbus (1451-1506) Spain Prussia Shakespeare (1564-1616) 1651 Publishes Leviathan
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Thomas Hobbes – What is politics and why do we need it? Historical Background: -English civil war -30 years war after reformation and counter-reformation, devastates Europe -Both interpreted as religious civil wars (-> Leviathan Frontspice) 6
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Thomas Hobbes – What is politics and why do we need it? Rejection of classical philosophy and their questions about justice (Plato, Aristotle) or their orientation towards Christianity as source of legitimation (St Augustine, Thomas Aquinas) Foundations: Instinct of survival and rationality of every human being Scientific method: matters in motion (book De Corpore) 7
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Thomas Hobbes – What is politics and why do we need it? When did the European state emerge? 8
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Leviathan or The Matter, Forme, and Power of A Commonwealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil 1651 9
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Thomas Hobbes – State of nature Bellum omnium contra omnes “ … so the nature of war consists not in actual fighting but in the known disposition thereto during all the time there is no assurance to the contrary. All other time is ‘peace’.” In such condition there is no place for industry, because the fruit thereof is uncertain, and consequently no culture of the earth, no navigation nor use of commodities that may be imported by sea, … no knowledge of the face of the earth; no account of time, no arts, no letters, no society, and which is worst of all, continual fear and danger of violent death, and the life of man solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short. 10
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Thomas Hobbes – State of nature Bellum omnium contra omnes In the State of Nature, Hobbes points out: “The notions of right and wrong, justice and injustice, have there no place. Where there is no common power, there is no law; where no law, no injustice.” “It is consequent also to the same condition that there be no propriety, no dominion, no ‘mine’ and ‘thine’ distinct, but only that to be every man’s that he can get, and for so long as he can keep it.” --Ch. XIII, paragraph 13 11
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Thomas Hobbes – State of nature Why do human beings come together in a state? Fear of death People want to ensure they can life a happy life People think they can work towards this 12
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Thomas Hobbes – Laws of nature 1.“that every man, ought to endeavour peace, as far as he has hope of obtaining it” (Lev. ch. 14, par. 4) 2.“that a man be willing, when others are so too, as far-forth, as for peace, and defence of himself he shall think it necessary, to lay down this right to all things; and be contented with so much liberty against other men, as he would allow other men against himself.” (Lev. ch. 14, par. 5) 3.“that men perform their covenants made” (Lev. ch. 15, par. 1) (Pacta sunt servanda) 13
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Thomas Hobbes – Laws of nature Problem: mutual trust about rules for peace is not enough, fear that covenants could be broken! Therefore, covenants based in trust don’t make any sense. How does Hobbes solve this problem? 14
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Hobbes Leviathan - Reading 15
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Introduction to Politics and International Studies Reach Summer School Tobias Müller, Department of Politics and International Studies
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