The Meaning of Notion "Nature" in the Political Doctrine of Thomas Hobbes against a Background of 'zoon politikon' Conception Cover Image

Znaczenie pojęcia "natura" w doktrynie politycznej Thomasa Hobbesa na tle koncepcji zoon politikon
The Meaning of Notion "Nature" in the Political Doctrine of Thomas Hobbes against a Background of 'zoon politikon' Conception

Author(s): Piotr Świercz
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences
Published by: Uniwersytet Ignatianum w Krakowie
Keywords: Thomas Hobbes; Aristotle; nature; state of nature; natural conditions of mankind; zoon politikon; social contract

Summary/Abstract: The main aim of this article is to examine meaning of “nature”, “state of nature” and “natural condition of mankind” in the political doctrine of Thomas Hobbes. It should be emphasised that is a matter of notion “nature”, not a Hobbes’ description of natural state. Some posibilities are taken into consideration: “nature” as an essence, “nature” (“state of nature”) as a wildness, “nature” as opposed to “artificial”, “nature” as an abstract conception of human individual. To emphasize the importance of title problem, it’s showed against a background of classical (greek and christian) idea of zoon politikon. It seemed justified because Hobbes’ political doctrine is considered (even by Hobbes) as opposed to classical understanding of human nature. In the recapitulation of this thesis author tries to indicate the reasons of Hobbes’ doctrine obscurity and consequences of this obscurity for modern political ideas.

  • Issue Year: 1/2010
  • Issue No: 01
  • Page Range: 111-130
  • Page Count: 20
  • Language: Polish