THOMAS HOBBES ON IRAQ WAR

Thomas Hobbes Philosophy on Iraq War

Thomas Hobbes Philosophy on Iraq War

Introduction

Thomas Hobbes presents a view on war as human nature. He argued that to reside in conflict is an underlying environment of man. "During the time men live without a common Power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition which is called Ware; and such a ware, as is of every man, against every man."(Leviathan, 1.13) What he is saying that without external power to impose laws, the state of nature would be that of constant warfare. It is thought that Hobbes is saying that humans need a set of guidelines and order to follow or the result will end in constant and chaotic war. As we are glimpsing now in Baghdad, without any laws or enforcers the citizens are looting and robbing artifacts of history. Eventually once all has settled down and an organized government can be set up for the citizens of Iraq to follow will in turn settle the country down. Other followers of Thomas Hobbes' views encompass Locke, Rousseau, and Kant. They all acquiesce to some extent with his recount of human environment and the alignment of government. Locke however, contradicts with Hobbes complete warlike state but does accept that there will habitually be persons who will take benefit of the need of legislation and enforcement.

Thomas Hobbes philosophy about Contemporary Politics

Thomas Hobbes philosophers throughout history have pondered the same questions coming up with several conflicting answers. The very definition of conflict has been subject between philosophers. Cicero characterises conflict as "a contention by force", Hugo Grotius adds that "war is the state of arguing parities, considered such as", Thomas Hobbes remarks that conflict is also an mind-set: "By conflict is intended a state of affairs, which may live even while its procedures are not continued"(Hobbes, 1997, 52-500).

There is no correct answer to rather war is morally right or incorrect, but the views of some philosophers conclude that conflict is necessary to live in peace. The most enduring and tough philosophical questions with reference to conflict focuses on the ethics of getting engaged in the first place. When assessing conflict three ideas have been followed: Just conflict idea, Realism, Pacifism. When conceiving in period of the Just War idea several guidelines are answered first. Within the idea it is broken down further into Justice of resorting to conflict, the right conduct in the midst of battle, and fairness throughout the final stage of war, the termination period. Realism is mostly used by political scientists as well as scholars and practitioners of international relations (Hobbes, 1997, 52-500).

The keywords of Hobbesian idea, in short, are pessimism and absolutism: a pessimism regarding the lesson alignment of environment and an absolutist belief in the depravity of man and consequent necessity of total obedience to authority.

How do these minutia of Hobbes's thought assist to our comprehending of the Iraq war? Why should we hesitate before invoking Hobbes's title in ...