1. Department of Political Sciences and International Relations History of Political thought I Lecture 2: The state of Nature Academic Year 2016-2017 Lecturer: Marion Oudar marion.oudar@sciencespo.fr marion.oudar@sciencespo.fr Department of Political Sciences and International Relations

2. 14/11/2016Political thoughts IMarion Oudar Outline of the lecture I.Background and bibliographies II.The state of nature as a state of war – Hobbes III.The state of nature as perfect equity – Locke IV.The state of nature according to Islamic thinkers

3. Hobbes, the English civil war and European war of religions Hobbes (1588-1679) – Most of his famous work have been written after the age of 60. – Idealistic and pacific man for whom no political or religious reason was worth to die for.

4. Locke – 1632 - 1704 Locke was a child during the English civil war, and the beheading of the King traumatized him greatly. Started with studies in medicines. His meeting with the 1 st Earl of Shaftesbury will change is carrier.

5. 14/11/2016Political thoughts IMarion Oudar 17 th century English History Hobbes lived during on of the most troubled time of English history: – Political turmoil: The English civil (1642 – 1646) war is threatening the monarchic system and turning English men against English men. – Religious turmoil: The thirty years war (1618-1648): all Europe is touched by war of religion between the old Catholic Church and the new reformation movements

6. 14/11/2016Political thoughts IMarion Oudar English civil war The civil war oppose the King Charles the 1 st and the parliament which is trying to increase its control power over the monarchy. Cromwell 1649: Beheading of the King Charles the 1 st The civil war ends with the restoration of the monarchy controlled by a permanent parliament: beginning of the constitutional monarchy – This established the strong precedent that an English monarch can NOT rule without parliament consent.

7. The thirty years war (1618-1648) The war starts with the unrest of protestant provinces of the Holy Empire. It then spread to all Europe with countries supporting one side or the other according to their religious majority or political agenda.

8. 14/11/2016Political thoughts IMarion Oudar Intellectual revolution Intellectual excitement: – Galileo (1564-1642) – Descartes (1596-1650) Revolutionary philosophical movement versus Scholastic philosophy: – Scholastic: Combination of Greek and catholic thinking

9. II. Hobbes – Leviathan (1651) Hobbes idea of the state of nature is one of the most famous and one of the worst of political philosophy Hobbes is a well know defender of : – absolutist almost tyrannical power – Enemy of democracy and freedom

10. 14/11/2016Political thoughts IMarion Oudar Why study Hobbes? Father of modern liberalism: – In Hobbes’ state of nature human beings have natural right for self-preservation. – The state of war in the state of nature force people to give the monopole of violence to the sovereign in exchange of security Reveal another side of our modern value: – Do we have to protect values of equality, liberty, etc. because Hobbes vision of Human nature is close to truth?

11. 14/11/2016Political thoughts IMarion Oudar What are the advantages of the experimental use of the state of nature?

12. 14/11/2016Political thoughts IMarion Oudar Assumptions about life and happiness Perfect happiness is not possible for human being as life is a perpetual and restless desire for power after power which only will stop with death. In the state of nature – if people do not abandon their freedom to a mighty ruler – human beings are condemned to a “poor, nasty, brutish and short life”

13. 14/11/2016Political thoughts IMarion Oudar What is your understanding of Hobbes state of nature?

14. 14/11/2016Political thoughts IMarion Oudar Chapter 13 – The natural condition of mankind as concerning their happiness and misery Our human nature will bring us misery so we must protect ourselves from our nature. There is no existence of justice or injustice in the state of nature as without law there is no concept of justice. Human behavior in the state of nature is based on reason and self preservation. – How can we know that? Imagine the state of nature.

15. 14/11/2016Political thoughts IMarion Oudar Human natural passions Competition: natural greed – Invade for gain Distrust: fear, people look for safety so they will invade if they feel threatened – Invade for safety Glory: every man is motivated by power and glory – Invade for reputation

16. 14/11/2016Political thoughts IMarion Oudar Alternative vision on Human nature Aristotle arguments: – Aristotle classical teachings insist on the political nature of human beings – Human flourishing come only when people gather and create society Biblical account: – In the origin, human were living in harmony and peace with each other, the original sin made them to lose this state. – Fallen condition

17. 14/11/2016Political thoughts IMarion Oudar The mighty sovereign Hobbes agree with Aristotle in the idea that human live better in communities but this is NOT a natural tendency. The fear of death will push people to make a contract between each other: – Give up freedom in exchange of security This is the only way to reach civilization and human flourishing.

18. 14/11/2016Political thoughts IMarion Oudar II. Why study Locke? Tolerance in religion: – Locke was living in a time of great religious turmoil resulting in religious wars between states but between citizens of a same nation as well. – One of his major concern was to ensure people of different believe living together Father of liberalism: – Men give up on their state of nature to better preserve themselves, their liberty and property

19. State of nature as state of equality In the state of nature no one has more power or authority over someone else. – As all human beings are born with the same status. Therefore no person may subordinate another, harm his life, health, liberty or possessions except in self defense.

20. 14/11/2016Political thoughts IMarion Oudar Creation of Humanity by God As human beings have been created by God, they have a duty to preserve and not to harm each other. Human nature has been created good with an obligation to love one another. – Do not do to people what you would not like others do to you The fundamental law of nature states that men are to be preserved as much as possible

21. 14/11/2016Political thoughts IMarion Oudar Law of nature God up inside all human beings qualities that create the law of nature: – Love of one another – Need to live in communities – Common reason – Natural justice – Freedom – Self defense If God does not reveal himself, law of nature can be found by reason.

22. 14/11/2016Political thoughts IMarion Oudar How does Hobbes and Locke understand differently the right to self preservation?

23. 14/11/2016Political thoughts IMarion Oudar State of nature as a peaceful state governed by reason The state of nature is: – Men living together according to reason, with no one on earth who stands above them both and has authority to judge them The difference between the state of nature and the state of law is the presence of a common judge who has authority. It is different from a state of war. – How Locke opposes himself to Hobbes?

24. 14/11/2016Political thoughts IMarion Oudar Natural justice In the state of nature, any one is responsible for enforcing the law of nature revealed by God. The aim of natural justice and punishment is to: – Provide reparation to the victim – Restrain people for breaking the laws of nature

25. 14/11/2016Political thoughts IMarion Oudar What are the common and different points between Locke and Hobbes?

26. 14/11/2016Political thoughts IMarion Oudar Why men need government according to both of them?

27. 14/11/2016Political thoughts IMarion Oudar IV. State of nature according to Islamic philosophers Men must life in societies as it is the way God created humanity. Yet by nature humans cannot live together without some kind of restraint as God put in all human a desire for good things and self preservation.

28. 14/11/2016Political thoughts IMarion Oudar How does Muslim thinkers combine the vision of Hobbes and Locke on Human nature?