Liberty, Rationality, and Agency in Hobbes's Leviathan

David Van Mill

Description

Marking a significant departure from most scholarship on Hobbes, this book offers new interpretations of his theories of freedom, agency, rationality, morality, psychology, and politics. Hobbes's arguments concerning many different aspects of civil society and human psychology are brought together to provide a comprehensive theory of agency. Hobbes's theory of freedom is demonstrated to be considerably more complicated than previously thought, revealing a concern with both "internal" and "external" conditions of action. On close examination Hobbes can be seen to move beyond his limited definition of negative liberty and to champion autonomous rational action. Throughout, the book evaluates the relevance of this reformulation for contemporary debates in political philosophy.
Acknowledgments

Part I: Introduction and Theoretical Framework

Chapter 1. Introduction

Summary of the Chapters

Chapter 2. The Scope of Freedom

Introduction
Charles Taylor and Positive Freedom

Desires
Rationality

Flathman and Negative Freedom
Flathman on Autonomy
Internal and External Freedom
Conclusion

Part II: Freedom, Autonomy, Rationality, and Morality

Chapter 3. Hobbes and Negative Freedom

Introduction
External Freedom and Causality
Freedom and Will
Fear and Freedom
Obligation and Freedom

The State of Nature
The Laws of Nature and the Right of Nature
Civil Society

Conclusion

Chapter 4. The Internal Conditions of Freedom:
Complex Instrumental Rationality and Autonomy

Introduction
Instrumental Rationality
Hobbesian Rationality: Good as the Promise of Things to Come
Rationality and Coherent Action: Good as Utile
Conclusion

Chapter 5. The Internal Conditions of Freedom:
Substantive Rationality and Autonomy

Introduction
Substantive Rationality and Autonomy: Good as Jucundum
Rationality and Self-regarding Actions
Rationality and Other-regarding Actions
Conclusion

Chapter 6. Voluntarism and Morality

Introduction
Hobbes's Psychology
Psychological Egoism
Morality
Conclusion

Part III: External Freedom

Chapter 7. Freedom, Equality, and the Laws of Nature

Introduction
The Harm Principle and the Protection of Freedom and Equality
The Laws of Nature and the Sovereign
Sovereignty and Democracy
Education, Censorship, Religion, Free Association, and the Preservation of Peace and

Freedom
Education and Order
Censorship
Freedom of Association
Religion and Order

Conclusion

Part IV: Conclusion

Chapter 8. Hobbes's Dualism

Introduction
Determinism
Consent
Equality
Power
Conclusion

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Sujets

• Philosophie
• Philosophie politique

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 19 juillet 2001
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780791490297
• Langue: English

Extrait

Liberty, Rationality, and Agency in Hobbes’sLeviathan

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Liberty, Rationality, and Agency in Hobbes’sLeviathan

David van Mill

S TATE U NIVERSITY OF N EW Y ORK P RESS

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany

© 2001 State University of New York

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

For information, address State University of New York Press, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207

Production by Diane Ganeles Marketing by Michael Campochiaro

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data van Mill, David. Liberty, rationality, and agency in Hobbes’s Leviathan / David van Mill. p. cm Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7914-5035-X (alk. paper)—ISBN 0-7914-5036-8 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Hobbes, Thomas, 1588–1679. Leviathan. 2. Liberty. I. Title.

JC153.H659 V35 2001 320.1—dc21

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Acknowledgments

Contents

Part I: Introduction and Theoretical Framework Chapter 1. Introduction Summary of the Chapters

Chapter 2. The Scope of Freedom Introduction Charles Taylor and Positive Freedom

Flathman and Negative Freedom Flathman on Autonomy Internal and External Freedom Conclusion

Part II: Freedom, Autonomy, Rationality, and Morality

Chapter 3. Hobbes and Negative Freedom Introduction External Freedom and Causality Freedom and Will Fear and Freedom

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Contents

Obligation and Freedom The State of Nature The Laws of Nature and the Right of Nature Civil Society Conclusion

Chapter 4. The Internal Conditions of Freedom: Complex Instrumental Rationality and Autonomy

Introduction Instrumental Rationality Hobbesian Rationality: Good as the Promise of Things to Come Rationality and Coherent Action: Good as Utile Conclusion

Chapter 5. The Internal Conditions of Freedom: Substantive Rationality and Autonomy

Introduction Substantive Rationality and Autonomy: Good as Jucundum Rationality and Self-regarding Actions Rationality and Other-regarding Actions Conclusion

Chapter 6. Voluntarism and Morality Introduction Hobbes’s Psychology Psychological Egoism Morality Conclusion

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Contents

Part III: External Freedom

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Chapter 7. Freedom, Equality, and the Laws of Nature 153 Introduction 153 The Harm Principle and the Protection of Freedom and Equality 156 The Laws of Nature and the Sovereign 162 Sovereignty and Democracy 175 Education, Censorship, Religion, Free Association, and the Preservation of Peace and Freedom 182 Education and Order Censorship Freedom of Association Religion and Order Conclusion 196

Part IV: Conclusion

Chapter 8. Hobbes’s Dualism Introduction Determinism Consent Equality Power Conclusion

Notes

Bibliography

Index

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