Scribd
Upload
24 views3 pages

reflection post

Uploaded by

stealth-shark9i
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
24 views3 pages

reflection post

Uploaded by

stealth-shark9i
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Leif Pearson

Anna Cook

Philosophy 210

12 September 2024

In Thomas Hobbes' "Leviathan," Hobbes declares if men live without a


common power to keep them in awe, they live in a condition known as war
(Hobbes 57). Yet, before Hobbes expects us to understand why that is, he
gives us what he labels “three Principles causes of discord” (Hobbes 57),
which explain why man leans to war without a common power. He states
these three principles exist in the very nature of man, the first being
competition, the second distrust and the last being glory (Hobbes 57). First,
Hobbes states we live in constant competition; he describes that if two
people desire the same thing, and only one can acquire it, both will seek to
destroy each other in their efforts to gain it (Hobbes 56, 57). Secondly,
Hobbes states we naturally exist with distrust; he describes man's natural
distrust in a paranoid manner. Hobbes states that the quickest way to safety
and departure from this paranoid distrust is to "Strike first" (Hobbes 57).
Lastly, Hobbes explains that our desire for glory dares us to do whatever it
takes to reach that feeling. Since every man desires to be valued, it
"Naturally Leads a man as far as he dares" (Hobbes 57) to feel that way.
Hobbes explains that these three principles make it evident that as long as
we don't have a common power to keep us in awe, man will continue to live
in a constant state of war (Hobbes 57). In Myanmar, an event has happened
that sounds very much like Hobbes' claim, as its government was
overthrown in 2021, resulting in multiple conflicts (Jazeera). An article by Al
Jazeera highlights a recent conflict regarding battles between anti-coup
forces and the military regime, showcasing an example of Hobbes' claim that
lack of common power leads to constant conflict (Jazeera).

Work Cited

Jazeera, Al. Myanmar Military Control Weakening as Anti-coup Forces France:


Report.

(31 May 2024). https:/www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/31myanmar-


military=control-

weakening-as-anti-coup-forces-advance-report. Accessed 11 Sept. 2024

Hobbes, Thomas. The Natural Condition of Mankind. Leviathan, (2017), p. 56-


57. Accessed 11 Sept. 2024
Leif Pearson

Anna Cook

Philosophy 210

September 19th, 2024

John Locke states when we exist in a state of nature, we all have judge/executioner rights,
and that if someone is using force without right to get someone else into their power to cause
harms, they have willfully entered a state of war with that person, consequently making it lawful
(under the laws of nature) for the victim to destroy him as he sees fit, and under the right
circumstances this is apparent even under government (Locke 7,8). Since an offender is not
acting rightfully under the laws of nature by encroaching on someone’s safety, he has forfeited
his right to life; in the state of nature this means the victim acts as the judge/executioner. In a
single society the victim shall turn to whoever is appointed to appeal since he has forfeited his
judge/executioner rights when he entered into the society (Locke 8). Though if a thief is upon me
at this very moment and we are governed but this situation is in a moment’s notice, Locke states
“It is the thief’s fault there is no time for appeal”, and therefore I have the ability to make my
own defence (Locke 8), even if it means killing him, and even if we are under a government.
This situation happens constantly in America, a place where there is a government with judges
and fair trials, and where there are deadly force self-defence laws. In the state of Idaho, near a
town called “Blackfoot” at about 2 a.m., 85-year-old Christine Jenneiahn experienced a home
invasion where she was handcuffed and berated with death threats (Global News). Luckily for
Christine, Idaho has a “Castle Doctrine” that allows deadly force in self-defence. She shot and
killed her intruder (Global News), therefore exercising Locke’s argument that in a civil society
there are situations where you have the liberties of the state of nature.

Work Cited
Couto, S. D. 85-year-old woman kills Home Intruder in act of self-defence
“ heroism” - national. Global News. (April 13, 2024).
https://globalnews.ca/news/10417069/85-year-old-woman-shoots-home-intruder-self-
defence-idaho/
Locke, John. Second treatise of government. 1689.
https://www.earlymoderntexts.com/assets/pdfs/locke1689a.pdf

You might also like