Hobbes and War

Hobbes’ discussion on how humanity interacts is fascinating. When I read his opinion that all men are equal, and that war is caused because of this equality, I was immediately drawn in by his thoughts on the matter. Hobbes continues on this subject by declaring, “To this war of every man against every man, this also is consequent: that nothing can be unjust. The notions of right and wrong, justice and injustice, have there no place. Where there is no common power, there is no law; where no law, no injustice. Force and fraud are in war the two cardinal virtues” (78). The fact that Hobbes believes that there are no rules in war is fascinating to me. It is hard to imagine what wars would be like without morals holding men back from committing atrocities. It makes me wonder why Hobbes does not believe that there is a moral conscious that prevents most men from committing certain crimes against humanity. Yes, there have been instances in the past where mankind has forgone moral restrictions (The Jewish Holocaust and the Rape of Nanking). However, there are comparably more examples of armies and legions that have fought according to certain rules of battle. I would like to learn more about what Hobbes thinks on this specific subject.