Everything Hobbes described is woven into the fabric of our thinking even if you’ve never read him. He believed in self-preservation at all costs and he put this belief into practice when he proudly declared himself as “one of the first to flee” at the outbreak of the Civil War. Afterwards, he was quick to return when the French government was unable to offer the same protection as the commonwealth. He thought allowances should be made for a natural timorousness.
Hobbes is important because he believed the origin of rights was found in our fear of a violent death and this is the origin of law and the state. Hobbes denied the moral value of all virtues that do not proceed from this fear. Our desire for peace is the fundamental law of nature.
From the way I understand it, Hobbes thought the good life was not found in striving for human excellence, but in commodious living. This seems to be the foundation of modern life and we may need to challenge this belief or perhaps offer an alternative. It’s hard to do this without taking Hobbes seriously.
