Thomas Hobbes Prudential Oughts :: Politics Philosophy Sociology

Whensoever a man transferreth his right, or renounceth it it is either in consideration of about right reciprocally transferred to himselfe or for some other intelligent he hopeth for thereby. For it is a voluntary act and of the voluntary acts of every man, the object is some good to himselfe. (192) Proposed with the question of whether Thomas Hobbess manifesto was written of oughts constructed upon prudential, moral or ethical foundations it is the former that prevails through his writing. Hobbes spoke of man universally when describing a humans primitive state, being one in a state of nature. Without the presences of a common condition, a sovereign, preventing man from entering their imminent status of war, man would ultimately live a life that was nasty, brutish, and short. (186) For in the state of nature it is every man, against every man. (185) This being true, in absence of common power to create and enforce laws there would be no injustice. (188) Therefore the accepted rules of conduct 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 absolute power would not be because it is right & just to keep war at bay, but because man has an intrinsic desire to live. Man fueled by his own self interests and capable of reason will see an absolute power, (as every man is naturally equal), as the only representation to preserve himself. For it is the general rule of reason, that every man ought to endeavour peace (190) It is in mans self-interest to follow the laws of nature and to willingly 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 reasonable mens self interest to crack upon these laws but, if other men will not do the same it would 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.