On Hobbes' View Of National Origin In Leviathan

The social contract theory began from Hobbes have shaped the direction of modern political philosophy, which concerns the origin and foundation of the common-wealth. The essential characteristic about the theory of common-wealth has been laid by Hobbes. Leviathan is a monograph about common-wealth, in which Hobbes constructed a theory about common-wealth which is different from the traditional political philosophy theory. This theory holds that there is a non-political condition, which called the state of nature. The constitutive elements of the natural condition are individuals who are free and equal, and there is not natural authority between them. The right of nature is the liberty to use his own power as he will to do any thing which in his own judgment and reason, and the private judgments will inevitably cause confusion-a state of war. The only way to get rid of this predicament is to erect such a common power by conferring all their power and strength upon one person or one assembly of men, so that the common power can establish a standard about right and wrong, justice and injustice. This result is achieved by contracts, and by conflicting wills into one will. The multitude so united in one person is called a common-wealth, and he that assumes this person is called sovereign. The appearance of absolute sovereign is Leviathan in Hobbes here. As a result, the foundation of the legitimacy of the political domination is the inherent subjective basis (based on the consent of individuals), not the external objective basis (in accordance with certain rule). The reason for this transformation is that the common-wealth is based on the equal and independent individuals, which is both the starting point of the struggle between the religious authority and secular regime, but also a reflection of the historical process-the emergence of a market society. And because of this, the most important issue is the relation of the individuals and the common-wealth. As long as we insist on such a premise that the common-wealth is established on the basis of individuals’consent, the conclusion that individuals take precedence over civil society(common-wealth) will be inevitable. We also will not be able to respond the criticism of liberalism against the common-wealth.