Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- A note on references
- Introduction
- 1 The standard philosophical interpretation
- 2 Hobbes's compositive reconstruction, phase one: identification of the principle of political obligation
- 3 Compositive reconstruction, phase two: religion and the redescription of transcendent interests
- 4 Hobbes's mechanism for the reproduction of social stability
- 5 Hobbes's resolutive analysis, phase two: part 4 of Leviathan
- 6 Theory in practice: Leviathan and Behemoth
- 7 Hobbes's resolutive analysis, phase one: design and detail
- 8 The treatment of transcendent interests
- 9 Hobbes's absolutism
- Notes
- Index
4 - Hobbes's mechanism for the reproduction of social stability
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 08 January 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- A note on references
- Introduction
- 1 The standard philosophical interpretation
- 2 Hobbes's compositive reconstruction, phase one: identification of the principle of political obligation
- 3 Compositive reconstruction, phase two: religion and the redescription of transcendent interests
- 4 Hobbes's mechanism for the reproduction of social stability
- 5 Hobbes's resolutive analysis, phase two: part 4 of Leviathan
- 6 Theory in practice: Leviathan and Behemoth
- 7 Hobbes's resolutive analysis, phase one: design and detail
- 8 The treatment of transcendent interests
- 9 Hobbes's absolutism
- Notes
- Index
Summary
B. For aught I see, all the states of Christendom will be subject to these fits of rebellion, as long as the world lasteth.
A. Like enough; and yet the fault, as I have said, may be easily mended, by mending the universities.
–Hobbes (B 90)We have so far discussed the major part of Hobbes's strategy for solving the problem of social disorder. Hobbes was aiming first, to identify a principle of political obligation that could, if followed, ensure the perpetual maintenance of domestic peace; and second, to provide his readers with what they could accept as a sufficient reason to adhere to that principle. If Hobbes's principle can do what Hobbes thinks it can do, and if he can persuade people to follow it, then we ought to get order. But Hobbes is concerned to ensure the continuation of order perpetually. This will require that not only some of Hobbes's contemporaries, but many of his contemporaries and future generations as well, be brought to the view that they have sufficient reason to adhere to Hobbes's principle. It is not enough that the people who pick up Leviathan be persuaded by Hobbes's argument; the insights it contains must be very widely disseminated, and reproduced perpetually, if Hobbes is to succeed in his practical political project. Part of this task will involve reproducing acceptance of Hobbes's argument for his principle – his “science of politics” – and part will consist in reproducing those interests that, when properly conceived, provide people with reasons for adhering to the principle.
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- Information
- Ideals as Interests in Hobbes's LeviathanThe Power of Mind over Matter, pp. 158 - 166Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1992