Thomas Hobbes believed that humans are naturally selfish and that this is the cause of most conflict. In his book Leviathan, he wrote: “In such condition there is no place for industry . . . no arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear and danger of violent death; and the life of man solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.”
Philosopher also believed that without government authority to maintain order, people would live in constant fear of one another. He believed that this fear could lead to violence or even civil war if left unchecked.
According to Hobbes, humans are prone to violence and often resort to force to get what they want. He asserted that people are not naturally good and require a strong central authority to keep them in check. Hobbes believed that humans are incapable of living in harmony with one another and will always clash unless there is a powerful force to keep them in line.
Hobbes also thought that humans are not rational beings and are often driven by their emotions and desires rather than reason. He argued that people are incapable of governing themselves and require a strong ruler to maintain order. Hobbes believed that humans cannot survive in a state of nature and will degenerate into savagery unless a strong central government is in place to keep them in check.
Hobbes’s theory was based on his own observations of human nature as well as his knowledge of history. He noted that throughout history there have been many instances where one nation invaded another, often with devastating results for both sides. He also observed that even within a country there could be conflict between different groups if they were not united under one government authority or law system. He argued that humans have a natural desire to seek power over others and avoid death at all costs (even if it means hurting others). Therefore, humans will always fight each other unless they are forced into submission by an authoritarian government.
