Thomas Hobbes Prudential Oughts :: Politics Philosophy Sociology

Whensoever a man transferreth his right, or renounceth it it is either in consideration of some right reciprocally transferred to himselfe or for some another(prenominal) good he hopeth for thereby. For it is a voluntary act and of the voluntary acts of all man, the object is some good to himselfe. (192) Proposed with the question of whether Thomas Hobbess pronuncia custodyto was written of oughts constructed upon prudential, moral or honorable foundations it is the former that prevails through his writing. Hobbes mouth of man universally when describing a humans primitive state, world one in a state of nature. Without the presences of a car park power, a sovereign, preventing man from entering their imminent condition of state of war, man would last live a life that was nasty, brutish, and short. (186) For in the state of nature it is every(prenominal) man, against every man. (185) This being true, in absence of common power to bring forth and enforce laws there would be no injustice. (188) Therefore the accepted rules of claim to follow, principles of ethics and our interpretation of morality would not exist. The principals of Good & Evil would be subjective, left to the interpretation of each person. According to Hobbes the catalyst for the process of an coercive power would not be because it is right & just to keep war at bay, but because man has an intrinsic desire to live. Man furnish by his own self interests and capable of reason will suppose an absolute power, (as every man is naturally equal), as the only means to preserve himself. For it is the worldwide rule of reason, that every man ought to endeavour ataraxis (190) It is in mans self-interest to follow the laws of nature and to volitionally give up all of his rights in order to secure his or her safety & preserve his or hers way of life, as long as all others do the same. It is in all sane mens self interest to agree upon these laws but, if other men will not do the same it wou ld be to expose himself to preyrather than to dispose himself to peace. (190) This would directly contradict mans general rule of reason.This is the primary prudential ought for which his writing is justified. Hobbess concept of what is ethical & moral are solely dependant upon the laws set forth by the sovereign.