Gavin Howe
Hobbes' first law of nature is a precept, or general rule of reason that underpins his moral and political philosophy. It states that every man ought to endeavour peace, as far as he has hope of obtaining it, and that when peace is not possible, one may resort to war to defend oneself. This law reflects Hobbes' belief that humans naturally seek their own preservation and desire for power, but when living together, conflicts arise due to our natural desires and aversions. To avoid a state of war, Hobbes argues that we need reason to determine rules for peaceful living, with the first law being to seek peace.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First Law of Nature | Seek peace |
| "That every man, ought to endeavour Peace, as farre as he can hope of obtaining it; and when he cannot obtain it, that he may seek, and use, all helps and advantages of Warre." | |
| "Peace is good, and therefore also the way or means of peace are good" | |
| "Every man ought to endeavour peace, as far as he has hope of obtaining it, and when he cannot obtain it, that he may seek and use all helps and advantages of war." | |
| Reasoning | Humans naturally seek self-preservation, but this leads to conflict when living with or near others |
| "A precept or general rule, found out by reason, by which a man is forbidden to do that which is destructive of his life, or taketh away the means of preserving the same; and to omit that, by which he thinketh it may be best preserved" | |
| "A law of nature is valid if it conforms to this general rule: 'Do not that to another, which thou wouldst not have done to thy selfe.'" | |
| Number of Laws of Nature | 19 |
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What You'll Learn
- Hobbes's first law of nature encourages a state of peace
- The law is based on the idea that humans naturally seek self-preservation
- The law has two parts, the second of which permits violent action
- The law is a rational precept, not a commandment from God
- The law is deduced through reason, not a mandate of governmental authority
Hobbes's first law of nature encourages a state of peace
The first law of nature is a critical aspect of Hobbes's moral and political philosophy, aiming to guide human behaviour towards a more harmonious society. Hobbes believed that humans, as rational beings, could recognise the imperative to seek peace and take the necessary actions to achieve it. This recognition forms the basis of the first law of nature, which acts as a precept or general rule derived from reason. By following this law, individuals can escape the miserable state of war that Hobbes associated with the absence of social order.
The law's encouragement of peace is further emphasised by its two-part structure. Firstly, it instructs individuals to satisfy their desire for self-preservation peacefully. Secondly, it acknowledges that peaceful coexistence requires reciprocity, and if others are not willing to seek peace, one may resort to the "helps of war" or "advantages of warre" to defend themselves. This dual approach recognises the importance of both peaceful resolution and self-defence in maintaining a state of peace.
Hobbes's first law of nature also serves as a foundation for his subsequent laws of nature, which build upon it geometrically. The second law of nature, for example, derives from the first and focuses on the laying down of rights to achieve peace. This progression highlights the interconnectedness of Hobbes's laws and their collective aim of fostering a peaceful society.
Ultimately, Hobbes's first law of nature encourages a state of peace by prioritising self-preservation, promoting conflict resolution, and providing a basis for further laws that support harmonious coexistence. Through this law, Hobbes offers a philosophical framework that guides individuals towards peaceful behaviour and the establishment of a stable social order.
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The law is based on the idea that humans naturally seek self-preservation
Hobbes's first law of nature is based on the idea that humans naturally seek self-preservation. This law is a "precept or general rule, found out by reason, by which a man is forbidden to do that which is destructive of his life, or taketh away the means of preserving the same; and to omit that, by which he thinketh it may be best preserved".
In other words, the first law of nature states that individuals should seek peace with others, as this is necessary for self-preservation. Hobbes argues that humans naturally desire power and the ability to attain what they consider good, but when living in close proximity, these desires lead to conflict and a "state of war". To escape this state of war, Hobbes suggests that individuals must use their reason to determine rules that allow them to live together peacefully while still pursuing their individual desires.
The first law of nature, therefore, encourages individuals to satisfy their desire for self-preservation by seeking peace. However, Hobbes recognises that peaceful coexistence requires reciprocity, and if only one party seeks peace, it is unlikely to be established. This is where the second part of the first law of nature comes into play: if others are not interested in settling the conflict, one must resort to violent action, or the "helps of war".
Hobbes's first law of nature is not simply a description of how humans naturally act, but rather a set of precepts determined by reason to guide human behaviour towards peace. It is important to note that these laws of nature are distinct from natural laws, which are commandments of God, and civil laws, which are mandates of governmental authority.
The first law of nature is the foundation for Hobbes's subsequent laws of nature, which build upon it geometrically. The second law of nature, for example, states that individuals must lay down their natural rights in order to obtain peace. This involves the establishment of a sovereign with absolute authority, who can enforce rules and promote peaceful living.
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The law has two parts, the second of which permits violent action
Hobbes's first law of nature is that every person should seek peace with others. This law has two parts. The first part encourages a state of peace by instructing individuals to satisfy their desire for self-preservation. However, because peaceful coexistence requires reciprocity, if only one party seeks peace, it is unlikely to be established.
Thus, the second part of the first law of nature permits violent action if others are not interested in settling the conflict. This is because, in the state of nature, humans naturally tend to seek their own preservation and the power to attain what they consider good. When we live with or near others, our natural desires and aversions lead us into conflict.
Hobbes argues that the state of nature is a miserable state of war in which none of our important human ends are reliably realizable. However, human nature also provides resources to escape this condition. Hobbes argues that each of us, as rational beings, can see that a war of all against all is against our interests, and so can agree that "peace is good, and therefore also the way or means of peace are good".
From the first law of nature, Hobbes derives a second law, according to which individuals must lay down their natural rights universally and concurrently in order to obtain peace. A natural right is relinquished either by transferring it to a specific recipient or by renouncing it entirely. In order to escape the war of all against all, Hobbes claims that a common power must be established by a mutual transference of rights to protect individuals from each other and from foreign invaders.
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The law is a rational precept, not a commandment from God
Hobbes's first law of nature is that every person should seek peace with others, unless others are not willing to cooperate, in which case one may use the "helps of war". This law of nature has two parts to it. Firstly, it encourages a state of peace by instructing individuals to satisfy their desire for self-preservation. Secondly, because peaceful coexistence requires reciprocity, if only one party seeks peace, it is unlikely to be established.
Hobbes's laws of nature are not simply descriptions of how humans always or usually act. They are rational precepts that lead individuals towards a state of peace. They are not commandments from God. They are conclusions drawn from natural reason, rather than mandates of governmental authority. They are independent of, though complementary to, whatever moral instruction we might get from God or religion.
Hobbes's first law of nature is a rational precept because it is deduced by reason. It is not a commandment from God because it is not revealed by God. It is a general rule that is discovered through reason. It is a practical imperative that commands our assent, even when it may not safely be acted upon.
Hobbes's first law of nature is not a commandment from God, but it is compatible with a belief in God. Hobbes supposes that "law" is a proper term for his laws of nature because, although they are required by natural reason, nature is ruled by God, "who commandeth all things".
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The law is deduced through reason, not a mandate of governmental authority
Hobbes's first law of nature is that every person should seek peace with others, unless others are not willing to cooperate, in which case one may use the "helps of war". This law of nature has two parts to it. Firstly, it encourages a state of peace by instructing individuals to satisfy their desire for self-preservation. Secondly, because peaceful coexistence requires reciprocity, if only one party seeks peace, it is unlikely to be established. Therefore, if others are not interested in settling the conflict, one must resort to violent action.
Hobbes's laws of nature are not simply descriptions of how humans always or usually act. They are not like physical laws, such as the laws of motion, which describe universal regularities of human action. Instead, Hobbes's laws of nature are "precepts determined by reason". They are eternal and immutable, commanding our assent even when they may not safely be acted upon.
Reason tells us that we ought to do whatever we can to preserve ourselves. This is not the same as thinking of laws of nature as what we naturally tend to do, although humans do naturally seek to preserve themselves. Hobbes's laws of nature are rational precepts that lead individuals toward a state of peace.
The laws of nature are not commandments of governmental authority. They are not civil laws, which must be written down and publicized in order to be known. Instead, they are natural and inherently known by all because they can be deduced by innate mental faculties (reason, philosophy). They are conclusions drawn from natural reason, independent of (though complementary to) moral instruction from God or religion.
Hobbes's laws of nature are not mandates of governmental authority, but they do require a sovereign. The second law of nature is to set up a state with a sovereign, and then to follow the third through nineteenth laws of nature once in that state, since these will promote peace. The laws of nature are a method of achieving consensus on political matters, with the aim of establishing an enduring state of peace.
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Frequently asked questions
Hobbes' first law of nature is to seek peace and follow it.
The state of nature is a condition in which fear reigns supreme and humans are driven by passions that lead them to hurt each other.
The fundamental principle behind Hobbes' first law of nature is to affirm human self-preservation and condemn acts destructive to human life.
Hobbes' first law of nature is not a description of how humans always or usually act. Instead, it is a rule created by an authority, such as a governmental authority or the commandments of God.
The second law of nature is to lay down our rights in order to seek peace, provided that this can be done safely.
