Study Questions

Hobbes' Natural Law Theory

1.) What are the desires and aversions for Hobbes and how do they figure in his characterization of the agents in his contractarian theory?

2.) What is the initial condition in Hobbes' theory?

3.) How does Hobbes argue that all persons are both intellectual and physical equals for all purposes in the state of nature?

4.) What is the fundamental natural right for Hobbes?

5.) What are the two natural laws we discussed in lecture?

6.) What are contracts for Hobbes?

7.) Why and how does a person enter into a commonwealth for Hobbes?

8.) Why does Hobbes favor a monarchy?

9.) What happens to lawbreakers on Hobbes' account?