According to Hobbes, what must people do to achieve law and order?

Prepare for your High School World History Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question provides hints and explanations to boost your readiness.

Hobbes believed that in order to achieve law and order, individuals must surrender certain rights to a powerful authority or ruler. In his work "Leviathan," he argues that the natural state of humanity is one of chaos and conflict, often described as a "war of all against all." To escape this state of nature, people would agree to form a social contract whereby they give up some personal freedoms in exchange for security and stability provided by a strong, central authority. This ruler, who possesses absolute power, is necessary to maintain peace and prevent the anarchy that would ensue if individuals acted solely based on their own desires.

This concept stands in contrast to the notions of democracy, governing bodies, or social contracts based on equality, which emphasize collective rule and distribute power among the populace. Hobbes' focus is on the necessity of a central authority to maintain order, which is why the principle of handing over rights to a strong ruler is fundamental to his political philosophy.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy