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Single Idea 20484

[from 'Leviathan' by Thomas Hobbes, in 25. Social Practice / D. Justice / 2. The Law / c. Natural law ]

Full Idea

Hobbes's position is that we have a duty to obey the Laws of Nature when others around us are known (or can reasonably be expected) to be obeying them too, and so our compliance will not be exploited.

Gist of Idea

We should obey the laws of nature, provided other people are also obeying them

Source

report of Thomas Hobbes (Leviathan [1651]) by Jonathan Wolff - An Introduction to Political Philosophy (Rev) 1 'Hobbes'

Book Reference

Wolff,Jonathan: 'An Introduction to Political Philosophy (Rev)' [OUP 2006], p.16


A Reaction

In particular, we should keep contracts. Hobbes doesn't seem fully committed to keeping facts and values separate.