Hobbes and the Derivation of Morality from Pleasure and Pain

Excerpts from the Paper

Hobbes and the Derivation of Morality from Pleasure and Pain
Thomas Hobbes is arguably the most prominent 17th-century English writer of political theory and philosophy, and certainly is best known for his major work on those topics, Leviathan (1651.)  Leviathan presents its author's full view of human nature and how this nature manifests itself through the formation and evolution of societies and political organization.  In substantial detail, it depicts Hobbes' concepts regarding human morality and moral codes especially as embodied in governments.  At the time of the book's composition these were issues of immediate and indeed critical importance, for the English Civil War was in full swing; Hobbes wrote most of Leviathan while in...

.....in Hobbes' speculative “state of nature,” to strife and disorder, there nevertheless exists a common agreement upon the universally desirable state of peace.  This reasoning remains subject to examination and analysis as it may be argued that it owes its conclusion more to Hobbes' monarchist, absolutist tendencies than to pure logic.  In any case, what is clear is that Hobbes' core concept relies upon the pleasure/pain (appetite/aversion) principle, motivated by inner subjective necessity, upon which to built its case for his political and social order.
Work Cited
Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan. Project Gutenberg. 29 Apr. 2009 .
“Hobbes’ Moral and Political Philosophy.”  Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.  Feb. 2002. Stanford U. 29 Apr. 2009 .