Hobbes on Human Nature

  Hobbes believes human nature to be self-centered and that the natural state of man is one of war. This occurs due to the notion that humans are selfish in the most basic pursuit, that of self preservation . In a situation were there is no central power (government, commonwealth), Hobbes believes that anything goes because anything has the potential to satisfy that basic, and selfish human need of self preservation. Hobbes goes on to state that, "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." (78) This point shows how within the natural state of war between all men there is no standard for right and wrong. This is so because individuals would be determining this all on their own. One person may kill to protect himself, and another may steal to keep himself fed but these actions without a central power would not be considered either right or wrong. For human desire and that basic instinct can only be moral when held within the view and standard of a collective power (commonwealth). Otherwise self preservation is the law of the land with absolutely no standard for justice or injustice. I agree with this assessment of mankind in that when there are no authorities to set a standard for justice, people act in what they deem to be their own best interests, and they will do this regardless of the implications. This is visible in instances of civil unrest caused by natural disasters.