An Analysis Of Hobbes’ Concept Of Liberty

Hobbes as an important representative of modern political philosophy,although some people do not admit that he is a liberal,but there is no doubt that his liberal thought provides the theoretical source for modern liberalism.By interpreting Hobbes’ concept of liberty,we can further understand Hobbes’ relationship with liberalism and its influence on it.It is also important to clarify the deeply held belief that Hobbes’ liberty is simply "Negative Liberty"."Negative Liberty" is not exactly the same as Hobbes’ concept of liberty.Hobbes’ study and definition of liberty is a gradual process.In his works of different periods,the meaning of liberty is different.Hobbes’ conception of liberty is often more complex than is often supposed.Different from traditional free thinking,he believed that liberty and necessity were compatible,which was also the most original part of his free thinking.According to Hobbes’ description and definition of his concept of liberty,liberty can be divided into:liberty before action,liberty of action and liberty without obligation.Hobbes came up with the absolutist political proposition on the premise of individual liberty theory,which is an important reason why Hobbes is classified as non-liberal by most people.But it cannot be ignored that he did light the way for liberalism.Although he did not improve this idea further,his theory opened up a new situation for liberalism.This paper will analyze Hobbes’ concept of liberty from five aspects.In the first part,the author mainly analyzes the reasons,significance,research status at home and abroad,and the structure and thinking of the paper.The second part focuses on Hobbes’ liberty to think before acting.First of all,he proposed that liberty and necessity are compatible,mainly because his consideration of causal necessity is not based on the principle of reason,but on the judgment of experience through reasoning,which is also the theoretical basis of his free thought.Secondly,liberty before action is not restricted by external obstacles,which is understood as the absence of the end of thinking,and the liberty of deliberating ends with the final judgment and act of the subject’s will.On this basis,Hobbes believes that free action is voluntary action.The third part studies Hobbes’ liberty of action that external barriers lack.By describing and analyzing the concept of liberty in different texts of Hobbes,this paper further clarifies the seemingly contradictory views on the relationship between liberty and ability,liberty and fear,and liberty’s slave.Hobbes’ concept of liberty before action and liberty of action are most likely to produce contradictions and misunderstandings.In the end,this part analyzes and solves the contradictions between liberty of thought and liberty lacking of external obstacles.The fourth part is about Hobbes’ discussion on duty and liberty.First,it analyzes the various ways of obligation,namely,the end of liberty,the abandonment or transfer of rights,and the contract.Secondly,it expounds the liberty in which the obligation does not exist,which is mainly to clarify the relationship between liberty and natural rights and natural law,between liberty and law,and between liberty and compulsion.Finally,this paper analyzes Hobbes’ duty and the problems arising from the relationship between liberty and duty.The fifth part mainly analyzes and compares Hobbes and contemporary view of liberty.There are two main views of liberty since modern times: liberal liberty and republican liberty.Both views of liberty more or less inherit some elements of Hobbes’ concept of liberty.First,by explaining Berlin’s distinction between the two concepts of liberty,this paper analyzes Hobbes’ relationship with liberals and his influence on liberalism.Secondly,the author compares Hobbes’ concept of liberty with republicanism’s view of liberty,and makes a distinction between them on the relationship between liberty and regime.