Hobbes s Undeniable Defense Of Self Interest As The Human...

Nimish Garg Hobbes’s Undeniable Defense of Self-Interest as The Human Catalyst In Thomas Hobbes’s Leviathan, Hobbes argues that humans are inherently and exclusively self-interested (6). Before they formed society, humans lived in the state of nature--a brutal place governed by no laws, contracts, or power to restrict human nature. People were free to kill each other without facing repercussions, forcing everyone to fend for themselves and live in fear of death. Hobbes describes this anarchy as the worst way to live life, one that is â€Å"solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short† (12). However, his argument is weak in that it relies on the questionable premises that humans are exclusively self-interested and that self-interest harms others†¦show more content†¦Hobbes provides examples of our inherent nature in even today’s society: the average man locks his doors to protect his belongings from citizens and even locks his chests to prevent his children from stealing his resources (12). Hobbes then proceeds to his next section, describing how humans were averse to being killed in the state of nature (13). For instance, they agreed to â€Å"lay down this right to all things† and give up their right to kill another person to ensure that they do not face a greater aversion, being killed (14). In the end, they were still looking out for their self-interest. Although they had lesser rights, they could now participate in a safer society. Hobbes is too reductionist and the axioms that he relies on are ignorant of important elements of human nature, notably the interaction between love and duty that is commonly felt in a familial structure. In a mother-baby relationship, the mother takes care of her baby, even though the baby is a liability. The mother could be pursuing much more efficient Hobbesian self-interested ways to gain pleasure, such as climbing up the corporate ladder to gain more riches, honour, or command. Still, the mother innately wishes to take care of the baby because she loves her child and wishes to see him happy. This familial duty drives people further away from Hobbesian self-interest, evidenced by inner conflict in important decisions. If someone were asked to provide a