PLSC 114: Introduction to Political Philosophy
Lecture 12 - The Sovereign State: Hobbes, Leviathan. This is an introduction to the political views of Thomas Hobbes, which are often deemed paradoxical. On the one hand, Hobbes is a stern defender of political absolutism. The Hobbesian doctrine of sovereignty dictates complete monopoly of power within a given territory and over all institutions of civilian or ecclesiastical authority. On the other hand, Hobbes insists on the fundamental equality of human beings. He maintains that the state is a contract between individuals, that the sovereign owes his authority to the will of those he governs and is obliged to protect the interests of the governed by assuring civil peace and security. These ideas have been interpreted by some as indicative of liberal opposition to absolutism. (from oyc.yale.edu)
| Lecture 12 - The Sovereign State: Hobbes, Leviathan |
| Time | Lecture Chapters |
| [00:00:00] | 1. Introduction: Thomas Hobbes |
| [00:07:28] | 2. Who Was Hobbes? |
| [00:14:12] | 3. Comparing Hobbes to Machiavelli and Aristotle |
| [00:25:26] | 4. Hobbes on Art, Science and Politics |
| [00:33:55] | 5. Hobbes' "Great Question": What Makes Legitimate Authority Possible? |
| [00:40:32] | 6. What Makes Hobbes' Story a Plausible Account of "The State of Nature"? |
| References |
| Lecture 12 - The Sovereign State: Hobbes, Leviathan Instructor: Professor Steven B. Smith. Resources: Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan [ebook]. Transcript [html]. Audio [mp3]. Download Video [mov]. |
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