Hobbes: Tweetegesis Dan Ryan Fall 2012 Division of Social Sciences
OF REASON, AND SCIENCE Reason What It Is WHEN a man ‘reasoneth’ he does nothing else but conceive a sum total, from ‘addition’ of parcels, or conceive a remainder, from ‘subtraction’ of one sum from another; which, if it be done by words, is conceiving of the consequence of the names of all the parts, to the name of the whole; or from the names of the whole and one part, to the name of the other part. And, though in some things, as in numbers, besides adding and subtracting men name other operations, as ‘multiplying’ and ‘dividing,’ yet they are the same; for multiplication is but adding together of things equal; and division but subtracting of one thing, as often as we can. These operations are not incident to numbers only, but to all manner of things that can be added together, and taken one out of another. For as arithmeticians teach to add and subtract in ‘numbers,’ so the geometricians teach the same in ‘lines,’ ‘figures,’ solid and superficial, ‘angles,’ ‘proportions,’ ‘times,’ degrees of ‘swiftness,’ ‘force,’ ‘power’ and the like; the logicians teach the same in ‘consequences of words,’ adding together two ‘names’ to make an ‘affirmation,’ and two ‘affirmations’ to make a ‘syllogism’; and ‘many syllogisms’ to make a ‘demonstration’; and from the ‘sum,’ or ‘conclusion,’ of a ‘syllogism’ they subtract one ‘proposition’ to find the other. Writers of politics add together ‘pactions’ to find men’s ‘duties,’ and lawyers ‘laws’ and ‘facts,’ to find what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ in the actions of private men. In sum, in what matter soever there is place for ‘addition’ and ‘subtraction’ there also is place for ‘reason,’ and where these have no place, there ‘reason’ has nothing at all to do. Reason Defined Out of all which we may define, that is to say determine, what that is which is meant by this word ‘reason,’ when we reckon it amongst the faculties of the mind. For ‘reason’ in this sense is nothing but ‘reckoning,’ that is adding and subtracting, of the consequences of general names agreed upon for the ‘marking’ and ‘signifying’ of our thoughts; I say ‘marking’ them when we reckon by ourselves, and ‘signifying’ when we demonstrate or approve our reckonings to other men.
OF REASON, AND SCIENCE Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll what is #social #science? Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll #science is about what adds up to what, what causes what Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll the same logic can be used in different fields Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll Reason involved in thinking and in communication
OF THE DIFFERENCE OF MANNERS Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll There are #cultural differences (culture meaning way of life) Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll we all pursue good life, though by various means Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll we ceaselessly seek power not because of what it gets us but because it's the only way to keep power Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll Alas power is something of a zero-sum affair - wanting it means you have to compete
Civil Obedience from Love of Ease… Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll Desire of pleasure or fear of pain lead to obedience but need or military inclination makes you a fighter
…from Love of Arts, Vertue, Praise… Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll Multiple motivations can incline (hu)men to obey a common power
Hate Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll Unpayable debts among equals generate hatred. Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll Debts to superiors “paid” with gratitude. Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll Payable debts yield sense of reciprocity, love, and a social bond. Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll If you injure someone you may hate him for constant fear of #revenge
Science, Knowledge, Religion Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll Anxiety about future drives search for knowledge. Cause and effect. #predictionmatters ! Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll Religion/god is result of looking for the cause behind the cause behind the cause. Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll At some level, the ultimate fear of the unseen god is the emotion which we use to create a basis for the power of law. Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll Not sure if that’s explanation or complaint by Hobbes!
OF THE NATURALL CONDITION Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll Humans basically equal in strength and intelligence Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll Such equality means we want same things. Leads to “diffidence” = timidity, distrust, shyness, withdraw
From Diffidence, Warre Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll Result is “who can you trust?” and constant need to fight for things Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll Some would just defend what they have, but always someone who wants to conquer. Vigilence. Defense. Arms race. Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll And it’s no fun to hang out together if it’s always a contest to see who is on top. Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll Conflict: causes-what humans seek: Competition- gain. Diffidence-safety. Glory-reputation
Warre of Every One Against Every One Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll Without a common power to keep them in awe, war of all against all ( Bellum omnium contra omnes ) Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll Under war conditions, no cooperation to produce culture, art, navigation, industry. War contrary to things humans want. Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll In a war of all against all, no rules, no sense of what is just. Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll What can get us out of this? Partly passion, partly reason.
Passions That Incline Men to Peace Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll We ARE driven by fear of death, desire of things that make for good life, and the hope of being able to produce them. Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll REASON suggests we make agreements to help us avoid what we (collectively) don’t like & attain what we do want.
FIRST AND SECOND NATURAL LAWS Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll Individual has natural right to do what’s necessary to preserve own life Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll “Liberty” means capacity to do what one wants free of external “impediments” Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll Right and law are different. Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll We have a natural RIGHT to everything… but…
FIRST AND SECOND NATURAL LAWS Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll But that natural right by itself leads to disaster. Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll Thus reason generates the First law. Prefer peace but use war if that fails. Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll And then reason generates the second law: surrender right to everything if others will too.
What Is It To Lay Down A Right Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll Transferring a right is to create an obligation. Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll Transferring a right is voluntary. Voluntary means good for me. Thus I can’t give up right without some consideration. Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll Contracts for future behavior w/o 3 rd party enforcement are meaningless. Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll The first performer opens herself up to being exploited. But one cannot do that.
Covenants of Mutual Trust Thomas Hobbes @WarreOfAllAgainstAll In a civil state there IS an enforcing power. Thus, it is not irrational to perform your half of a contract.
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