The idea that human beings are fundamentally selfish has been nurtured by many thinkers over the centuries, and that has partly influenced the way we understand our minds.
The philosopher Thomas Hobbes, for example, is one of the great representatives of this ideological tradition, and he is so in part because one of the most famous concepts he developed: Leviathan
He Leviathanin English, or Leviathan, as it is popularly known, is surely the most important and transcendental work of the 17th century English philosopher, politician and thinker, Thomas Hobbes.
Referring and writing with splendid mastery, the author refers to the most feared biblical monster to explain and justify the existence of an absolutist state that subjugates its citizens Written in 1651, his work has been of great inspiration in political science and, paradoxically, in the evolution of social law.
In the biblical scriptures
As we noted previously, the character of Leviathan comes from mythology and the scriptures of the Bible whose governments of the Middle Ages used to justify royal governments “by the grace of God.”
The Leviathan is a fearsome being that has no mercy, scruples or compassion. He is of gigantic size and, according to the Old Testament, he has been related to the devil himself and who was defeated by God to make good prevail over evil.
But where is it the relationship between this monster and the role of the State, according to Hobbes ?
Thomas Hobbes and his political adaptation of Leviathan
Thomas Hobbes was born in England in 1588 at a time in history when Great Britain was threatened by the feared and invincible Spanish Armada. This philosopher graduated from the University of Oxford in scholastic studies and philosophical logic who, influenced by authors such as Pierre Gassendi and René Descartes, would be considered a key author in the development of Western political theory.
Returning to his work, Leviathan is a book that is made up of 4 parts, where he explains the relationship between man and the State through a consensual pact in the power relationship between mandated and agent
Basically, the Leviathan, the Government, is a terrifying but necessary figure that, for Hobbes, serves to make a certain peace and order predominate, necessary for civilization to progress and for individuals not to threaten or suffer threats or attacks from others. individuals.
1. The Man
In this part, man is analyzed as a human individual, a being of knowledge and wisdom. Man is made and developed through experience; experience that is defined as the repetition of acts and experiences that will shape society. This one will use the word to carry out the imposition of the truth, through oratory and political discourse
The problem arises with the very desires of man. Due to the material and passionate impulses of people, individual interests will always turn against others thus generating a conflict, especially due to the search for power and wealth.
In this enclave Hobbes spoke in what will be remembered as one of the most famous phrases of humanity: “homo homini lupus est” (man is a wolf to man). For this reason, the pillars in the construction of society are ethics, morality and justice But, for Hobbes, something more is needed.
2. The State
It is in this space of action where Hobbes will introduce the concept of “Social Pact” or “Social Contract” manipulated and elaborated by men to ensure individual security and protection in order to end the conflicts faced by individual interests.
It is in the State where moral laws prevail over natural laws. That is, collective desires prevail versus the passionate desires of men. For Hobbes, The only function of government is to establish and ensure peace stability in society.
The author only defends three possible government models: monarchy (his favorite), aristocracy and democracy , in this precise order. He has a preference for absolutism because he justifies the common good, where private and public interests are one, admitting that “it is impossible that if a King is rich, his people are poor.”
3. The Christian State
Thomas Hobbes was a declared believer, but that did not mean the fate of an entire town was subordinated to divinity What’s more, he even questioned the Ten Commandments of Moses due to an absence of evidence to demonstrate who and for what real purpose these laws were dictated.
Consequently, the author greatly emphasized the dependence of the Church on the sovereign, in this case the monarch, to avoid pretentious interpretations that harm the common good, the peace that he defended so much.
concludes attributing a secondary role to the Church subordinated by the supreme head of the State (the Catholic kings), and will be considered the supreme pastors of their own people, holding the sole power to legislate for their subjects.
4. The Kingdom of Darkness
Perhaps the most controversial section, Hobbes makes a clear and harsh criticism of religious institutions, the Church in particular. He names this chapter “The Kingdom of Darkness” as part of the corrupt and cynical framework that the house of God has had throughout the history of great empires, such as the Roman Empire.
Accuses the Christian authorities of having failed to follow the truth of wanting to impose ignorance for one’s own benefit and thus having the mass well indoctrinated with false practices, such as the idolatry of Saints, figures, images or relics that are prohibited by the word of God.
However, and saving distances from the machinations that he rejects so much, Hobbes asserts that in some specific cases the word of truth can be silenced or silenced, if that leads to the destabilization of the State through rebellion that alters the established order and status quo.
