Sunday 30 December 2012

Attacking Hobbes' account

Do I accept the premisses and problems?

1)

  • Are we really selfish? It depends on the situation. We might trust each other in a life and death situation because we know it's the only effective way of staying alive. 
  • We don't know how we would act because we haven't experienced it. 
  • The Game Theory shows trust and selflessness in people. 
C: Our continued existence would be secure.

However:
  • The Game Theory doesn't apply because the players aren't in a SoN so  won't act like they would in a life and death situation.  
But! 
Although it would be easier to trust no one, we need socialisation to be sane because we are social animals.

C: Continued existence would be secure because we wouldn't kill, there would be no one to socialise with and no sense of living if so.

2) 
  • Would there be morals? Would it be that "Anything goes"? Some people may have morals and would choose to not kill.
  • It depends on whether we were born in or just changed to a SoN and Hobbes hasn't focused on this.
3) 
  • Even the strongest person can be killed by a lower sneaky person.
  • The Fight for Glory may not protect you after all.
  • Some do not want ultimate power.
4)
  • Some may decide to assign jobs and have long-term projects to have food, maybe form a state.
  • After all, this is what Britain and the whole world has done! Converted into a state.
I disagree with all of the premisses and problems. I don't think he has looked clearly enough at how people would act in the SoN. 

Is the conclusion right?
Solitary? - Humans are social animals and we naturally need socialisation and a sense of belonging.
No cooperation? - We formed a state.
Rousseau - No one has experienced the SoN. Hobbes: Countries with no government. (Somalia).

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