Virtues And Rights: The Moral Philosophy Of Thomas Hobbes

Politics & Social Sciences

Ewin, R. E.

Philosophy

Routledge

This interpretation of the moral and political philosophy of Thomas Hobbes argues that he well understood the importance of moral behaviour to civilized society. Challenging currently fashionable game theoretic reconstructions of Hobbesian logic, the author contends that modern readers have misconstrued his view of the relationship between politics and morality. Among the implications of Ewin's reading are that Hobbes never thought that "the war of each against all" was an empirical possibility for citizens; that his political theory actually presupposes moral agency; and that his account of natural law forces us to the conclusion that Hobbes was a virtue theorist.

Westview Press

This book is a timely new interpretation of the moral and political philosophy of Thomas Hobbes. Staying close to Hobbes's text and working from a careful examination of the actual substance of the account of natural law, R. E. Ewin argues that Hobbes well understood the importance of moral behavior to civilized society. This interpretation stands as a much-needed corrective to readings of Hobbes that emphasize the rationally calculated, self-interested nature of human behavior. It poses a significant challenge to currently fashionable game theoretic reconstructions of Hobbesian logic. It is generally agreed that Hobbes applied what he took to be a geometrical method to political theory. But, as Ewin forcefully argues, modern readers have misconstrued Hobbes's geometric method, and this has led to a series of misunderstandings of Hobbes's view of the relationship between politics and morality. Important implications of Ewin's reading are that Hobbes never thought that "the war of each against all" was an empirical possibility for citizens; that his political theory actually presupposes moral agency; and that Hobbes's account of natural law forces us to the conclusion that Hobbes was a virtue theorist. This major contribution to Hobbes studies will be praised and criticized, welcomed and challenged, but it cannot be ignored. All philosophers, political theorists, and historians of ideas dealing with Hobbes will need to take account of it.

Cooperation and Human Values: A Study in Moral Reasoning

The Harvester Press Ltd.

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