Question
“It is not wisdom but Authority that makes a law.”
Thomas Hobbes
“The obligation of subjects to the sovereign is understood to last as long, and no longer, than the power lasteth by which he is able to protect them.”
Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes
“The obligation of subjects to the sovereign is understood to last as long, and no longer, than the power lasteth by which he is able to protect them.”
Thomas Hobbes
Answers
GPT-4o mini
These two quotes from Thomas Hobbes reflect his views on the nature of authority, law, and the social contract in his seminal work, "Leviathan."
1. **“It is not wisdom but Authority that makes a law.”**
This statement emphasizes Hobbes's belief that law's legitimacy does not stem from moral reasoning, wisdom, or a collective sense of justice but rather from the power and authority of the sovereign. For Hobbes, a law is valid if it is established by a recognized authority capable of enforcing it. This perspective underlines the central role of a strong, centralized government in maintaining order and preventing chaos, as he famously argued for in a time of political instability.
2. **“The obligation of subjects to the sovereign is understood to last as long, and no longer, than the power lasteth by which he is able to protect them.”**
This quote highlights Hobbes's concept of the social contract. According to him, individuals consent to give up certain freedoms and submit to the authority of a sovereign in exchange for security and protection. The obligation of the subjects to obey the sovereign is contingent upon the sovereign's ability to provide that protection. If the sovereign fails to uphold their end of the social contract, individuals have the right to withdraw their obedience, reflecting a pragmatic approach to governance where authority is justified by its effectiveness in safeguarding the people.
Together, these quotes encapsulate Hobbes’s vision of the necessity of authority in human society and the conditional nature of loyalty between rulers and subjects. His ideas laid foundational concepts for modern political philosophy, particularly concerning ideas of governance, authority, and individual rights.
1. **“It is not wisdom but Authority that makes a law.”**
This statement emphasizes Hobbes's belief that law's legitimacy does not stem from moral reasoning, wisdom, or a collective sense of justice but rather from the power and authority of the sovereign. For Hobbes, a law is valid if it is established by a recognized authority capable of enforcing it. This perspective underlines the central role of a strong, centralized government in maintaining order and preventing chaos, as he famously argued for in a time of political instability.
2. **“The obligation of subjects to the sovereign is understood to last as long, and no longer, than the power lasteth by which he is able to protect them.”**
This quote highlights Hobbes's concept of the social contract. According to him, individuals consent to give up certain freedoms and submit to the authority of a sovereign in exchange for security and protection. The obligation of the subjects to obey the sovereign is contingent upon the sovereign's ability to provide that protection. If the sovereign fails to uphold their end of the social contract, individuals have the right to withdraw their obedience, reflecting a pragmatic approach to governance where authority is justified by its effectiveness in safeguarding the people.
Together, these quotes encapsulate Hobbes’s vision of the necessity of authority in human society and the conditional nature of loyalty between rulers and subjects. His ideas laid foundational concepts for modern political philosophy, particularly concerning ideas of governance, authority, and individual rights.