the Philosophy of Hobbes by Michael Aquino

In this episode, we explore the Philosophy of Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679)—the man who gave us the Leviathan, the social contract, and one of the most pessimistic yet influential visions of human nature in Western philosophy. It was a time of civil war, regicide, and political upheaval. It was a time when the old certainties of divine right and religious authority were crumbling. And it was a time when one man dared to ask: What is the rational basis for society?We begin with the Age of Absolutism—the period that birthed the modern state system and the concept of the balance of power. We trace the intellectual climate of the 16th and 17th centuries, a time of transition between medieval knowledge and the new science. And we examine Hobbes's radical departure from Aristotle, his rejection of the idea that man is a "social animal," and his chilling assertion that the natural state of humanity is a war of all against all.From the state of nature to the social contract, from the Leviathan to the right of self-preservation, from his comparison with Machiavelli to his legacy for modern political thought—we examine the philosopher who saw fear as the foundation of society. And we ask: Was Hobbes a cynical pessimist or a clear-eyed realist? 🎧 ABOUT THE RUBY TABLET The Ruby Tablet Podcast is a philosophical and spiritual journey through the essays of the Temple of Set, exploring the great traditions of human thought—from ancient Egypt to the present day. Each episode is a deep dive into the ideas that help shape the Self and fan the Black Flame.🔮 In Our Next Episode:We turn to the Philosophy of John Locke—how did Locke replace fear with reason? Why did he believe that the state of nature is governed by natural law? And what is his vision of property, liberty, and the consent of the governed? The story continues.🔗 Sources & Reading List:Essay #11: The Philosophy of Thomas Hobbes (Aquino VI°, V2 - 102 - 11)Reading List: 16A, 16L, 16M📚 Recommended Reading:Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan (ed. Richard Tuck)Thomas Hobbes, De Cive (On the Citizen)Quentin Skinner, Hobbes and Republican LibertyC.B. Macpherson, The Political Theory of Possessive IndividualismRichard Tuck, Hobbes: A Very Short IntroductionJohn Rawls, Lectures on the History of Political PhilosophyLeo Strauss, The Political Philosophy of HobbesStephen Holmes, Passions and Constraint: On the Theory of Liberal Democracy💬 Join the Discussion:What do you think? Was Hobbes right about human nature? Are we truly driven by fear and self-interest, or is there a more optimistic foundation for society? Is the social contract a real agreement or just a philosophical fiction? And how does Hobbes's vision of the state compare to our modern political reality?#ThomasHobbes #Hobbes #Leviathan #SocialContract #StateOfNature #EnglishCivilWar #Absolutism #PoliticalPhilosophy #Philosophy #NaturalLaw #PossessiveIndividualism #Machiavelli #Sovereignty #HumanNature #Enlightenment #17thCentury #ModernState #TempleOfSet #LeftHandPath #TheRubyTablet #PoliticalTheory #PhilosophyPodcast