Thomas Hobbes: the author of the ‘social contract’


As a creature who adores extended analysis I found that 'Leviathan' was somewhat disappointing. Now I don't blame Thomas Hobbes for this mild irk, he wasn't complicit in the publication's decision to *not include a correspondence to his most honor'd friend Mr. Francis Godolphin.* I curiously read the document on the e-book of 'Leviathan' the same book PPS (Pacific Publishing Studios) explosively announced it being an International Best Seller...  not only does the book have the highest of accolade, it boasts the book was a landmark bestseller which inspired multiples of millions worldwide. I'm sure it did, because Hobbes was a founder of modern political philosophy; in his dialogue with Godolphin (not in the book) he states...


 "I humbly Dedicate unto you this my discourse of Common-wealth. I know not how the world will receive it, nor how it may reflect on those that shall seem to favour it (Leviathan). For in a way beset with those that contend on one side for too great Liberty, and on the other side for too much Authority, 'tis hard to passe between the points of both unwounded." Dear readership, you may denote Hobbes had his doubts about 'Leviathan' - and I can see why; social contract theorems are not exactly a subject modern living engages in. And I suspect this mirrored Hobbes opinion in the seventeenth century.


Hobbes also pens... "Besides, I speak not of the men, but (in the Abstract) of the Seat of Power..."  I firmly get the impression Hobbes would not of approved of influencing millions per se... albeit, merely settled on governing chieftains perched on seats of power. Ye-s, I am a creature of extensive analysis and I've unveiled a mammoth discrepancy directly from the discourse of Thomas Hobbes. On the book jacket you read grandiose terms like... 'Writing that shaped the world;' alas, inside the book civil is spelt 'civill' - I quickly confirmed it really should be 'Philosophy that shaped the world.' Although, I've a strong view Hobbes had little to do with the (2011) Leviathan version, I cannot imagine he'd approve the book should be written in 'old English,' or formatted for actual secondary school study... it wasn't his audience.  You could concur I'm boldly announcing an intellectual property injustice here - even the book's glossy cover is superfluously elaborate, he'd much prefer 'Leviathan' was published as a pamphlet; or simply glazed over a plump lawmaking loaf. Whereby every citizen can experience the 'Leviathan' staple diet of humanity, decency and logic, without rallying about in a frenzy of tribal warfare, politically or economically. Those who speak with a bellicose tongue deceives their public abhorrently; there's zero need for it - but its done to create societal trepidation, and directly gifts those in power to mistreat and starve the vulnerable. There are only two types of chieftains those who starve the vulnerable and those who don't; there's no inbetweeners, the failure of neo-liberialism in recent eras is a behemoth example.


From a modern prospective, my steely observations is directed at our authoritarians today and dare I say it... dare I say it...  yes, I am: 'the seats of authoritarianism are too barbaric to relate to Hobbes social contract to civil liberty and decency.'  In uncertain times civility in policy and ideology has to supersede the alarmists; indeed, Hobbes portrays this in Chapter II - 'Of imagination.' By background or definition of ones' background, the ubiquitous default position trounces the view of open-mindedness... ye-s 'Of imagination' plays a vital part of mindful concepts surrounding social values and morals - you nay notice that the blatant obvious is obscured by a deranged misconception. A few may call it invalid interpretation, naturally the premise simulates Hobbes's 'Of imagination;' 'man measure men and other things purely by themselves, automatically the reality is clouded and when endorsed by their own kind; quickly you witness the flaws - the imaginative view is escalated and this is where the layers of deceit warps societal values, to the point *frail* core positions manifest from transfiguration.  Why the archetypal politician systematically recall early memories whenever trying to gain confidence. In retrospect, this is pure transfiguration, overtly has nothing to do with gaining trust whatsoever; it's a delusional prophecy to highlight a self-diagnosed egocentricity - again, the memory is built on the 'Of imagination' self-orientated mantra, it is redundant to societal contracts with the public. Movements are not, the reason why they're not is due to the comprehension of collective governing. 'Of imagination' premises are far less part of the societal landscape... personal memories are irrelevant; cajoled futures are the focus. Positive language and actions are the only means to capture influence, and from influence there's hope and greater influence; inadvertently, this is where the right kind of prosperity resides.


By now, you'll take note 'Leviathan' is prominently theoretical. The chapter; 'Apparitions or Visions' is typical of the extremes of illusory content, gladly modernity pays less time engulfed in divine rhetoric compared to 1651; alas, we've *accidentally* prospered due to living outside the realm of incessantly repenting to a non-entity. Dreams whether in a vision of must dos or regrets cometh under a veil of mystery, audaciously abstract and as a rule has no worth in an industrial sense. On their own they're worth zilch, but if the vision has the power to gravitate towards a positive outcome imperialism can commence from relative stability. Hobbes refers to Marcus Brutes fearful vision of Julius Caesar 'murthered' in 42 BC, prior to the event - there closeness, comradeship enabled the dream to become a premonition, one which was allegedly accurate.


Historians  for centuries have misdiagnosed visions as being truthful; you could easily conclude that Marcus Brutus's grief could have triggered off a recent event i.e. as in a vivid, short dream. Time gets jumbled and before long it's deemed an apparition. Deism tends to usurp on these eventualities and you probably can get a flavour of Hobbes's reaction in Chapter seven's 'Of the End or Resolutions of Discourse.'    No matter what logic is gathered, belief systems is an animal of unknown quantities, no logic can break the resolve of creed. When Hobbes's discourse gets to the fundamental factor that individuals don't trust in man yet acknowledges the doctrine , albeit, man wrote the bible. You find chaos erupts under mass deception (s), and much of the shenanigans are based on identifying false idols, neither can be proven and this is where the metaphor has cometh to the rescue of Deism - indoctrinated metaphor  is the purest form of codology.


Hobbes directly warned his readership of the dangers of the metaphor, because metaphors by character and meaning are suspicious and are man-made, Designed to be  ambiguous and therefore allegedly immune from scrutiny, of course even the seventeenth century philosophers knew this. Why the doctrine proclaims you cannot have faith in... Person, your closest friend. In 'Leviathan' there's a comprehension doctrines has via nature nothing to do with God; but a human attempt to live by a rule of order... and what better order is there than one which is illusory; hence, lets cut to the chase and make it directly a Higher Order. Hobbes's History tells us if it's a good judgement or not.  Notably, there's a disrespectful attitude in regards to wisdom, duly for the de facto (power under a perverse self-appointed divine right) allows for contradictory, untruths, inhumane sacrifices, rapes, stoning, repents, and non negotiable preaching in a place of Worship -to validate the aforementioned by adopting suchlike within a veiled belief system, is derisive to humanity.


Hobbes's 'Leviathan' was a plea to engage wisdom, logic and decency and bolster the concept of reason; 'of the reality of flesh and blood should supplant super-naturalism.' My pedantic nature finds it difficult to fathom Hobbes's  own interpretation of a 'Holy Man' for he labels one of being voucher-safe, in being awarded or gifted with divinity; amusing really due to the fact it's unlikely the gift of Omnipotent. Hobbes may have had to adhere to a 'Government of Religion' whereby wisdom had to be addressed to those connected to the 'GoR' in the mid seventeenth century. Although, it was typical Hobbes to term the 'GoR' to be up to the job of not being in fear of the Civill Sword; true to form the philosopher always gets the final word.


Religion / CoE at this point in time was on fertile ground, probably from the ripening fruits of William Laud's  (Archbishop of Canterbury) divine rhetoric; ye-s, he galvanized all the parishes to play an active part in building on a supernatural laden society; indeed he was executed in 1645 for his troubles. Indirectly, Laud's prophecy was active throughout this epoch. when toleration affiliated to piety was set at nil;  for every citizen had to abide by the 'CoE' indoctrination - for a man of great will and intellect you can see why Hobbes took to the pen as if he was in battle.

Comments