"For by this authority, given him [the sovereign] by every particular man in the commonwealth, he has the use of so much power and strength conferred on him that, by terror thereof, he is enabled to form the wills of them all to peace at home and mutual aid against their enemies abroad. And in him consists the essence of the commonwealth."
Chapter Seventeen: Of the Causes, Generation, and Definition of a Commonwealth
- Hobbes contends that men who have a natural inclination for liberty and ambitions to dominate those around them will ultimately submit to a commonwealth because they have a greater desire self-preservation and peace.
- A sovereign is necessary to enforce the commonwealth because the laws of nature, which Hobbes' names as "justice, equity, modesty, mercy..." go against man's "natural passions".
- Hobbes goes on to further state that there can be no "peace without subjugation". He uses the metaphor of small families/tribes acting against each other for self-preservation to paint a picture of large cities/kingdoms in modern times. He asserts that while these large multitudes are needed for protection from enemies, they cannot self-govern as there are too many differing opinions in a group so large. They can only attain a state of peace within themselves by submitting to a sovereign and relinquishing their individual rights/ideas.
- Man is not made to be a "colony" creature, living peaceably in social groups (such as bees and ants) without a dominant leader. Hobbes presents six reasons why this is impossible in human society:
- "Men are constantly in competition for honor and dignity, while these creatures are not." Ultimately, these drives breed jealousy and hate, leading to war.
- "Among these creatures, common good differs not from the private." Man compares himself with his neighbor, he generally sees his gains as building up himself, rather than building up the collective society.
- "These creatures -- having not, as man, the use of reason -- do not see or think they see any fault in the administration of their common business." Man often sees himself as more capable than those around him (smarter, stronger, etc). Therefore, he thinks he can govern better than those around him, and the desire for reform to his own ideas creates conflict.
- "These creatures... want that art of words by which some men can represent to others that which is good in the likeness of evil... discontenting men and troubling their peace at their pleasure." Man is capable of lying, augmenting the truth, or bending a situation to suit his own needs.
- "Irrational creatures cannot distinguish between injury and damage... as long as they be at ease, they are not offended with their fellows." Man is able to recognize when someone insults or purposely harms/takes advantage of him. Likewise, when man is at peace, he is most comfortable showing off to others and attempting to influence those governing the commonwealth.
- "The agreement of these creatures is natural, that of men is by covenant only." Man's covenant is not natural, and therefore it requires the force of more than just reason to hold it together.
- All of these reasons combine to build Hobbes' argument for an all-powerful sovereign, acting as the glue which forcibly binds the covenant together, even when man may desire to break it. Through this transfer of power, the multitude is united into one entity, known as the commonwealth. Hobbes argues that this is the only way to attain any form of peace between men.