(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

The question of Obligation in De Cive

             The question posed is what is the nature and extent of obligation in De Cive. Hobbes deals with various forms of obligation and there are more than a few ways to become obligated according to Hobbes. For Hobbes the nature of obligation is a hierarchy where all other potential sources of obligation must yield to the most powerful obligation which is to preserve our bodies against death and injury with all means possible. From this very simple to understand point, obligation extends into more and more detailed levels based first on momentary emotions, reason, then finally spoken and written contracts.
             Hobbes lays down very clearly that everyone that the has the right to resist death and injury with any means possible and that among fears, death is the most chief among them (Ch.1 VI-VIII.). Hobbes states at there are two types of natural obligation (Ch.15 VII.). The first is where liberty is taken away by force which can be attributed to the obligation to preserve oneself. In order to avoid the death blow, one simply yields at that instant without thought to the demand. The other is by hope or fear. Man's obligation to God is described as this type of obligation. When confronted with such an overwhelming feeling, arrived by the thought of one's inability to resist the power which is confronting them, one simply yields to that power. Simply put, an obligation makes someone do something, or not do something. These two types of obligation are what drive the actions of people in the state of nature. They are what compose natural right. (Ch.1 X.). Within the bounds of natural right is the natural law. The difference between natural right and natural law is that it takes the use of right reason to understand the natural law (Ch.2 I.). Hobbes lays down several natural laws which lead to the creation of civil society and put limits on the natural right. By requiring that right reason is necessary for the natural law to be understood Hobbes provides another sort of loop hole for obligation.


Essays Related to The question of Obligation in De Cive

1. Miguel de Unamuno

Miguel de Unamuno This Spanish author, philosopher, and educator was a predecessor of existential philosophy whose life works proved very influential in the early 20th century Spain. ... After completing his doctorate he returned to his hometown of Bilbao, where he co-founded the socialist journal La Lucha de Clases. ... These intellectuals questioned this regeneration of their nation and searched for reasons why and how to rebuild Spain to splendor. ... He returned to Spain and the Rectorship in 1930 with the death of Primo de Rivera and the fall of the dictatorship. ... "(3) Miguel d...

  • Word Count: 888
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography

2. Themes of Oppression in Aves Sin Nido

Clorinda Matto de Turner's novel, "Aves sin nido," published in July 1889, caused controversies amongst intellectuals. ... "Matto de Turner's explanation for the corrupting nature of the juridico-political structure is a lack of education" (Turner, Hudson 16). Matto de Turner's explanation for the corrupting nature of the juridico-political structure is a lack of education. ... At times, the reader could be mislead into thinking that the plight of the Indians is due to this corrupt governing body and that if they were to comply with their obligations, the pro...

  • Word Count: 619
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Has Bibliography

3. De Stijl - An Overview

It is within this context that De Stijl developed. ... Although they did not invent De Stijl they certainly helped to promote it. ... Piet Mondrian, the most popular artist of De Stijl defined the movement in the first issue of "De Stijl" magazine as something that was to be an expression of a new ideal world, an idea that was typical for the age. ... Often though, the extreme approaches of De Stijl do not appeal to me at all. ... I can not share De Stijl's claim of 'absolute validity'. ...

  • Word Count: 1394
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Las Madres de Plaza de Mayo

The leader of the Las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo was Hebe de Bonafini, Bonafini and 13 other woman banded together, but they needed to be organized. ... As they started to get organized, they made themselves into an association names, Asociación Madres de Plaza de Mayo. ... The Las Madres de Plaza de Mayo brought awareness to Argentina through the protest that took place weekly. Through these protest more mothers were able to join the Asociación Madres de Plaza de Mayo, and demand the truth to be told. ... These woman became known as the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, they were derisively ca...

  • Word Count: 1360
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Saint Vincent De Paul Village

Homelessness is a social problem that my community suffers from. It is a condition of people who lack regular access to housing, and is caused by several factors such as mental illness, drug and alcohol abuse, physical or sexual abuse, and simply not having enough money. Homelessness is not just the...

  • Word Count: 3237
  • Approx Pages: 13
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Eamon de Valera and the league of Nations

Eamonn de Valera was born in New York 14 October 1882. ... De Valera joined the Gaelic League in 1908 where he developed a love for the Irish language. ... In the aftermath of the Rising de Valera's death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. ... De Valera was very anxious to make Ireland internationally recognised. ... De Valera had a firm belief in the honourability and intentions of Wilson. ...

  • Word Count: 3770
  • Approx Pages: 15

7. The De Beers Group

The mission statement at De Beers is, "Together with our joint venture partners, De Beers mines for diamonds across Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. ... In Namibia, De Beers operates through Namdeb Holdings (Pty) Limited, a 50/50 joint venture between the Government of the Republic of Namibia and De Beers (Zaamwani-Kamwi, De Beers Operating and Financial Review, pg.16). ... In Botswana, De Beers operates through Debswana, a 50/50 joint venture partnership between the Government of the Republic of Botswana and De Beers (Gowans, De Beers Operating and Financial Review, pg.14). ... In ...

  • Word Count: 839
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Xavier de Maistre

Objective Xavier de Maistre discovered a new meaning to life. ... De Maistre would see it as more than wood and fabric, as a part of his life. ... De Maistre was a explorer and defiantly paved a new road to life. ... Xavier de Maistre was an explorer as much as the four entrepreneurs mentioned above. ... De Maistre explains that you should look further into the object and find out what it is about. ...

  • Word Count: 453
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

9. The Authorship Question

With this in mind, could "Shakespeare" be Edward De Vere, seventeenth Earl of Oxford, or Sir Francis Bacon? ... (A Short Life) When looking at the deaths of the three men, it is evident that De Vere was the only one of the three who actually died before the publication of the sonnets. Shakespeare died in 1616 (A&E), Bacon in 1626 (Francis Bacon), and De Vere in 1604 (A Short Life). ... How would De Vere pick a name to mask his own? ... Evidence greatly supports De Vere as being the playwright "William Shakespeare", and rules out the Stratford man. ...

  • Word Count: 490
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

Got a writing question? Ask our professional writer!
Submit My Question