Virtues And Rights: The Moral Philosophy Of Thomas HobbesThis book is a timely new interpretation of the moral and political philosophy of Thomas Hobbes. Staying close to Hobbes's text and working from a careful examination of the actual substance of the account of natural law, R.E. Ewin argues that Hobbes well understood the importance of moral behavior to civilized society. This interpretation stands as a much-needed corrective to readings of Hobbes that emphasize the rationally calculated, self-interested nature of human behavior. It poses a significant challenge to currently fashionable game theoretic reconstructions of Hobbesian logic. It is generally agreed that Hobbes applied what he took to be a geometrical method to political theory. But, as Ewin forcefully argues, modern readers have misconstrued Hobbes's geometric method, and this has led to a series of misunderstandings of Hobbes's view of the relationship between politics and morality. Important implications of Ewin's reading are that Hobbes never thought that "the war of each against all" was an empirical possibility for citizens; that his political theory actually presupposes moral agency; and that Hobbes's account of natural law forces us to the conclusion that Hobbes was a virtue theorist. This major contribution to Hobbes studies will be praised and criticized, welcomed and challenged, but it cannot be ignored. All philosophers, political theorists, and historians of ideas dealing with Hobbes will need to take account of it. |
Contents
The Inalienable Right to SelfPreservation | 63 |
4 | 74 |
The Natural Condition of Mankind | 93 |
Copyright | |
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actual agreement arbitrator argue Aristotle behavior Bernard Gert binding cause chapter 15 chapter 26 Cive civil law civil society common action concerned Contract Tradition conventional decision-procedure covenants David Gauthier disagreement disputes Elements of Law example explain fact George Lawson give gratitude Hampton Hobbes says Hobbes's account Hobbes's argument Hobbes's point Hobbes's theory Hobbesian sovereign idea injustice insist interpretation judge Kavka kind person laws of nature Lawson Leviathan live logical man's natural condition matter means method natural law natural right necessary obligation one's Oxford particular perform Peter Laslett Political Theory possible private judgment problem procedure Psychological Egoism public judgment qualities of character radical form recognize relationship resolve right reason argument right to defend right to self-defense right to self-preservation role rules simply Sir Robert Filmer social sort sovereignty suggests things threat truth University Press virtues theory Wolin