Hobbes forms an important part of political philosophy, as he is one of the major social contract theorists. This branch of philosophy is concerned with establishing the 'perfect' society. In order to do this something called the social contract comes into play. This is an understood, but not literal, perception of the foundations of society. Hobbes presents one perception of social contract theory, and like most, begins with the 'The state of Nature'.

The first thing to establish is what the ‘state of nature’ is and what purpose it forms in Hobbes’s theory. The state of nature is an imaginary state, showing how Hobbes’s sees human beings in a pre-political age. An important point to note, and remember, is that at no point is it ever suggested that this state existed, it just forms part of a thought exercise. Though Hobbes’s believes that humans, in this so-called ‘state of nature’, are all rational and equal he does not create a positive image. He writes that humans in this state are primarily egocentric violent beings, almost beasts, living in constant fear of one another, continuously battling for success and glory. Due to there egocentric nature Humans are incapable of working together, according to Hobbes, nothing big can ever be accomplished. No building, no society, nothing. This is a very interesting comment on fundamental human psychology from Hobbes perspective and although this is a pretty bleak view of human nature in genera it is important in considering Hobbes's next step. Basically the single thing to take from Hobbes's view of humans in a 'state of nature' is that it is a war

'of every man, against every man’

in a constant struggle for survival. Perhaps the ‘state of nature’ is best summed up by Hobbes himself,

'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.'

The Social Contract

The social contract forms the basis on which society is built. This contract is implicit, i.e. it is not generally stated. Hobbes view of the social contract runs as followsHe argues that it would not be beneficial for humans to remain in this state of nature, and in his eyes the only way to do this would be to form a society, but this would be contrary to mans egotistic and warlike nature. His argument is that the first step would be for everyone to surrender there own right to self defence, and no one would fight. He calls this the first rule of nature: best to give up self defence if others will follow suit. There is a huge risk in doing this as in a state of nature you agree to such a contract, and then someone breaks it, they will not be punished or lose anything, as no concept of right and wrong exist in the state of nature. So therefore he argues that it would be in the humans best instincts to attack first!

But this still does not solve his problem, but the ‘primary covenant’ does! This involves everyone agreeing to transfer there right of self defence to a sovereign, who in turn will protect the citizens and keep the piece. And so this Th
convent is the start of society

The Leviathen

This sovereign power is called ‘the leviathan’ by Hobbes; he sees the leviathan as an absolute ruler, a single body, but in some way aggregative. The problem in this is obvious, namely, if the leviathans power is absolute there is little prevents them doing as they wish, and so replacing fear of everyone in state of nature with fear of the leviathan in society?

But the leviathan’s power is conditional; they are given it by the citizens on the condition that he keeps the peace. If they fail to do this then, Hobbes argues, they have the right to rebel and protect yourself, effectively returning you to the ‘state of nature’.

Problems with Hobbes and his Social Contract

His picture of Human beings ignores the better side of human nature, for example selflessness and love, claiming that self preservation has the ability to override everything. And because he claims this, of course, his contract is going to look like the model ideal.