Hobbesian Moral and Political Theory

483 Pages·1986·27.486 MB·English

by  Gregory S. Kavka

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HOBBESIAN MORAL
AND POLITICAL
THEORY
STUDIES IN MORAL, POLITICAL,
AND LEGAL PHILOSOPHY
General Editor: Marshall Cohen
HOBBESIAN MORAL
AND POLITICAL
THEORY
Gregory S. Kavka
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS
PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY
Copyright © 1986 by Princeton University Press
Published by Princeton University Press
41 William Street
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
In the United Kingdom:
Princeton University Press, Guildford, Surrey
All Rights Reserved
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
will be found on the last printed page of this book.
ISBN 0-691-07718-5 (cloth) 0-691-02765-X (pbk.)
This book has been composed in Linotron Aldus.
Clothbound editions of Princeton University Press books
are printed on acid-free paper, and binding materials
are chosen for strength and durability. Paperbacks,
although satisfactory for personal collections,
are not usually suitable for library rebinding.
Printed in the United States of America
by Princeton University Press
Princeton, New Jersey
For Virginia, and all who helped
CONTENTS
PREFACE xi
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xvii
Introduction
CHAPTER ONE. METHOD — HOBBES'S AND OURS
1-1. Hobbesian Theory 3
1-2. Hobbes's Method 4
1-3. Our Problems and Plans 19
Part I. Descriptive Theory
CHAPTER TWO. HUMAN NATURE
2-1. Theories of Human Nature 29
2-2. Psychological Egoism 35
2-3. Was Hobbes a Psychological Egoist? 44
2-4. Evaluating Egoism 51
2-5. Predominant Egoism 64
2-6. Death-Avoidance 80
CHAPTER THREE. CONFLICT IN THE STATE OF
NATURE
3-1. The Structure of the Argument 83
3-2. State of Nature and State of War 87
3-3. Preliminary Version of the Argument 92
3-4. The Basic Argument 96
3-5. War or Peace? 102
3-6. Objections 107
CONTENTS
CHAPTER FOUR. COOPERATION IN THE STATE
OF NATURE
4-1. Defensive Cooperatives 126
4-2. Cooperation over Time 129
4-3. Cooperation and the Fool 137
4-4. Groups and the State 157
4-5. A Priori or Empirical? 171
CHAPTER FIVE. FOUNDING THE STATE
5-1. The Hobbesian Social Contract 179
5-2. The Parties 188
5-3. Choice and Disaster-Avoidance 200
5-4. Terms of Agreement: Economic Welfare 210
5-5. Terms of Agreement: Government and Liberty 224
5-6. Remaining Problems 236
CHAPTER SIX. POWER AND ORDER IN THE STATE
6-1. Crime and Punishment 245
6-2. The Paradox of Perfect Tyranny 254
6-3. The Paradox of Revolution 266
6-4. An Argument Against Revolution 279
Part II. Normative Theory
CHAPTER SEVEN. MORAL CONCEPTS
7-1. Facts and Values 289
7-2. Good and Evil 292
7-3. Rights 297
7-4. Obligations 303
7-5. Ought-Principles 309
CHAPTER EIGHT. THE RIGHT OF SELF-
PRESERVATION
8-1. The Right of Nature 315
8-2. The First Argument for Inalienability 322
8-3. The Second Argument for Inalienability 329
8-4. An Acceptable Argument 333
CONTENTS
CHAPTER NINE. RULE EGOISM
9-1. Right Reason and Natural Law 338
9-2. Morality in the State of Nature 349
9-3. Rule Egoism 357
9-4. Egoism, Utility, and Justice 368
9-5. Rule Worship 378
CHAPTER TEN. POLITICAL OBLIGATION
10-1. Obligation and the Social Contract 385
10-2. Tacit Consent 391
10-3. Hypothetical Consent 398
10-4. Other Grounds of Political Obligation 407
10-5. Independents and Oppressed Minorities 415
CHAPTER ELEVEN. THE LIMITS OF OBLIGATION
11-1. Self-Incrimination 419
11-2. National Defense 424
11-3. Revolution 433
CHAPTER TWELVE. LESSONS AND LIMITS OF
LEVIATHAN
12-1. Limits of Hobbesian Theory 437
12-2. Lessons of Leviathan 446
INDEX 453