The State of Nature and the Social Contract (Hobbes Leviathan, ch. 13-15) - A Course In Ethics

[@GregoryBSadler]

Thanks for the compliments. In my students' defense, Hobbes is tough reading, and it was an 8 AM class

[@Happynewdayyy]

🤣

[@GregoryBSadler]

@foil66 Well, if you go into my Intro to Philosophy and Ancient Philosophy playlists, you'll find a few vids on Plato, Aristotle, and Epictetus that deal with Metaphysics or at least Philosophy of Human Nature (which is a part of it). A lot more Ethics vids, since that's mainly what I'm getting paid to teach these days

[@GregoryBSadler]

I haven't shot any other videos on Hobbes up to this point, no. . . I'll likely do so down the line.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad you liked the lectures. The hypothetical state of nature? Well, if you put it just like that, it's an idea that's been around in one form or another for quite some time -- really any story in which humanity starts out in a pre-political condition is presuming something like that. But, something like Hobbes' specific idea, and even more, the use he makes of it -- that's a different matter. Nietzsche influenced by Hobbes? It doesn't appear so -- but I could be wrong on that

[@GregoryBSadler]

Yes, this is a classic problem. Ultimately for Hobbes, whoever is in power as the enforcer, their decisions have to be final and decisive -- and they constitute what's right. There's really no way to keep the enforcers "in line". In fact, later on in Leviathan, Hobbes discusses how opinions and ideologies have to be brought in line with those of the enforcers

[@forevergrasping]

Hey, I enjoyed your lectures on Hobbes! I've heard the Leviathan mentioned several times in Steven Pinker's writings, but it was not until a few months ago, while preparing a teaching on John Locke concerning the proper role of government, that I got acquainted with Hobbes view on the state of nature in contrast with Lockes. I am curious, do you know who was the first to start discussing the hypothetical state of nature? Another question I have is, was Nietzsche influenced by Hobbes?

[@tiffanyblanco6326]

Do you have any lectures on environmental philosophy? I am trying to better understand it for my independent study case. Thank you :)

[@GregoryBSadler]

+Tiffany Blanco I do not.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Well, Hobbes doesn't speak of "human rights" (a much later term), but "natural right" -- and in his view, we ahve them by nature, giving some of them up to live more or less securely in civil society under a sovereign who enforces the social contract. They are in no way derived from God directly - in fact, Hobbes argues against those who make such claims If you're interested in the status of laws of nature as moral norms, you can find my article discussing that over in my academia.edu profile.

[@GregoryBSadler]

There is considerably less freedom in the Hobbesian commonwealth than what we're used to. Hobbes sees that as a good tradeoff, though, in comparison with where we could otherwise end up. You might check out my academia.edu profile -- I've got several articles on these sorts of issues in Hobbes uploaded there

[@randomthoughts6625]

I thought about something, what would be really helpful as a outsider to philosophical history I and perhaps many more would profit from a video about the big conflicts of philosophy. Are there such things, even, but if there were it would be awesome

[@iregood]

This is a very interesting lecture! I was trying to identify where the human rights are coming from in Hobbes's thought? Are they derived from God directly or is something inherent? and if its inherent that means it's there by nature, hence we refering to God indireclty? And whats the difference with Locke's thought on the human rights' origination?

[@iregood]

Thanks about that, I will check the article!

[@mafauko]

Hey there, do you spend more time on the political notions of revolution and absolute power that Hobbes describes? I searched through your videos and didn't see any. Upon my amateur readings I find him hard to swallow and disturbingly accurate.

[@GregoryBSadler]

I'm doing two 8 AM classes this semester -- one Ethics, the other Intro. And, I'm not a "morning person" myself

[@dr_jamie_ranger]

Man, this guy's students are slow to understand this. His patience and his explanatory skills are exceptional.

[@GregoryBSadler]

There's an interesting parallel between Hobbes and Nietzsche in some respects -- perhaps down the line, I'll do a talk about that

[@Ryantuc]

Seriously though, top notch!

[@EmPtyMagzz]

I had a question. So I'm writing a paper for my philosophy 101 class and the topic I have to write about is should social political theories deal with evil? I'm kinda lost at the moment. Any thoughts?

[@GregoryBSadler]

Here's my Google Helpout: helpouts.google.com/115610514266074572098/ls/9816ea33d6ef2a6a

[@Ryantuc]

5:17, so what you're saying is that monks beat off robbers? :)

[@tiestofann44]

I enjoy watching your videos! Do you have any on Socrates I think you have the Apology

[@GregoryBSadler]

Try using the search function, or maybe looking at the Plato playlist

[@tiestofann44]

thanks!

[@TheMinderEngineer]

When did you start documenting your SMMA journey? Recently started sharing our lessons as well. 👏

[@GregoryBSadler]

No idea what you're asking about

[@GregoryBSadler]

Yep, that's Hobbes' main point

[@randomthoughts6625]

Are criminal organizations really out of the social contract, internally they have all those notions about honor strength etc. ? It seems for me that the social contract is an inherent thing to humans. Stepping out of it is more a process of trying actively to deny it

[@GregoryBSadler]

You know, there's nothing like reading the text, where Hobbes deals with those sorts of groups. Just having some sort of mores isn't the same thing as a social contract

[@randomthoughts6625]

Gregory B. Sadler ah ok that makes sense.

[@syed3770]

is there a way I can email you a question

[@GregoryBSadler]

My email is quite literally all over the place. People email me all the time. My time is what's in short supply, so I prioritize what I answer

[@kylie_kai_kai]

32:23

[@fabsisters1]

Good

[@fabsisters1]

nice

[@dr_jamie_ranger]

8am??? Then, they have my sympathies. :P

[@rokaskrisciunas6015]

I don't like these discussions with students because it interferes with Hobbes's ideas and a louder video would be preferred by me. Thank you for your lessons.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Complaining about a video shot 8 years ago. . .

[@rokaskrisciunas6015]

@@GregoryBSadler For real, sorry about that :D

[@rokaskrisciunas6015]

@@GregoryBSadler just so you don't make the same mistakes :)

[@sketty4358]

My friends go to Marist lol not the brightest kids

[@GregoryBSadler]

It's pretty rare to be the brightest, in my experience. . . .

[@sketty4358]

lol yessir.. here at suny albany prepping for our second exam on Hobbes and Rousseau, I must say your do a great job at doing your job. Praise.