Haven't decided Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Haven't decided - Essay Example Next, it explains the reason why the state of nature leads to war. Moreover, it defines the first, second, and third laws of nature and their interrelationships. Finally, it asserts that the role of coercive power allows people to obey the laws of nature. A law of nature refers to a general law that comes from human reason, wherein people are restricted from acting destructively against life, or from removing the means to protect life, and, at the same time, this law requires people to pursue self-preservation (Hobbes 80). This view of the law of nature indicates that reason follows the basic instinct for the preservation of human life above all, most especially, one’s life before others. Hobbes knows that people find it reasonable to want to protect their life; hence, it refers to a law of nature. The fundamental interest of people is to protect their life, although the means to attaining it can vary. Following this reason in the state of nature inevitably leads to war because of the perceived belief that people have a right to defend themselves or to attack others for the goal of promoting their personal interests. Hobbes believes that people, by nature, are competitive and selfish. For instance, a king who has a piece of la nd may naturally want to expand it to improve his wealth and power. As a result, he will go to war with another king or any other people or group who possess land. The law of nature compels him to go to war. Nevertheless, the same law of nature suggests that people can also value their self-preservation by agreeing on peace, which also protects their lives and allows them freedom to pursue other rights. A king who does not want war may say to another king who desires war that he is willing to yield power to the latter. In this case, the former king uses reason to preserve his right to life without necessarily resorting to