Hany’s Reviews > The Political Philosophy of Hobbes: Its Basis and Its Genesis > Status Update

According to Hobbes's original opinion, the artificial State is primarily democratic, as the natural State is the patrimonial monarchy.

According to Hobbes's original opinion, the artificial State is primarily democratic, as the natural State is the patrimonial monarchy.

Hobbes was from the outset a decided upholder of the monarchy and a decided opponent of democracy, and he kept to this opinion throughout his life.

'History and civil knowledge' are 'that kind of learning which best deserveth the pains and hours of great persons'.

Wisdom is the knowledge 'of what is right and wrong and what is good and hurtful to the being and well-being of mankind. . . . For generally, not he that hath skill in geometry, or any other science speculative, but only he that understandeth what conduceth to the good and government of the people, is called a wise man.'

One is completely justified in calling the first period of Hobbes's life (up to 1629) the 'humanist' period. The later periods of his life were influenced by scholasticism, Puritanism, and aristocracy.

Hobbes's political philosophy proves his assertion that the war of every one against everyone arises of necessity from man's very nature. Every man is for that very reason the enemy of every other man, because each desires to surpass every other and thereby offends every other.

Hobbes's Political Philosophy would lose its character if he didn't adopt the pessimistic view of human nature that they are naturally evil(rapacious). Moreover, human beings are under all conditions determined by their sense-impressions and by their automatic reactions to those impressions (their desires and passions) rather than by reason.