Page 111 - DPOL201_WESTERN_POLITICAL_THOUGHT_ENGLISH

Unit 6: Thomas Hobbes

At an international conference held in Helsinki in 1987, an important consensus emerged Notes
among scholars that the proposition of a world state might be absurd and premature, for
nation states would continue as long as humanity remained concerned with the right of self-
preservation and the need to secure commodious living. These observations vindicated the
essential postulates of Hobbes’ paradigm, and reiterated its relevance for times to come.
• In summation, the twentieth century with its complexities and problems has made it possible
to appreciate the concerns that Hobbes exhibited namely power, peace and science. There
was an interest in trying to understand the “power relations, necessary, possible and desirable
between men”, for Hobbes was the first to lay down the science of power politics. We share
Hobbes’ concern in trying to devise ways and means for ensuring order and commodious
living. Above all, we share and appreciate his method of science. However, the modern
world values the rule of law, rather than the person who really wields it, and in this sense
Hobbes’ prescriptions were pre-modern. The modern view of power is also different, as
Persons remarked, power in modern society is more like money. It is a functional category
like others thus differing considerably from Hobbes’ notion. Moreover, with the democratic
revolution of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, struggle for power has been replaced
with struggle for recognition, thereby drastically modifying the role of the singular,
personalized sovereign. But for understanding this historic transformation of humankind,
an understanding of Hobbes is an essential prerequisite.

6.7 Key-Words

1. An unaccountable sovereign : A person or group empowered to decide every social and
political issue.
2. Right of Judicator : Of hearing and deciding all controversies.

6.8 Review Questions

1. Critically examine the concept of individualism.
2. Explain the Hobbes, Social Contract.
3. What are Hobbes views of Social Contract? Explain.
4. Explain Hobbes views on the rights and duties of the sovereign.
Answers: Self-Assessment
1. 1651 2. Thucydides 3. Leviathan
4. 1655
6.9 Further Readings

1. Mukherjee, S. and Ramaswamy, S. 2004: A History of Political Thought, PHI
Learning Pvt. Ltd.
2. Mukhopadhyay, A.K. 1990 Western Political Thought, Calcutta - KP Bagchi and
Company.

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