Midterm Practice

Thomas Hobb’s, an 18^th century philosopher, is quoted as saying that liberty and necessity are intertwined. He then says that the same liberty and fear are also connected in a simplistic yet sophisticated manner. He explanation of liberty and necessity is slightly flawed though it has its factual roots. He states that because every act of man completed in full liberty springs from a cause for a necessity, liberty and necessity are related. By the definition of the minority a need is anything that they could ever demand, however the true definition stems from a physical requirement for living, and every cause of man is not based on this requirement. Hobbs’ statement that fear and liberty are consistent is however based in fact. For the fact that men do everything they do out of fear of weakness, fear and liberty are consistent however every free act of man does not stem from necessity.

In the heart of a man are many needs and many desires. A physical need is one required for living. A need is nothing more and nothing less. To say need causes every action committed by men in full liberty is a gross exaggeration. Every day men invent new causes to fight for that which fulfills their desire to be thought of as important and powerful. These causes are certainly brought to pass into society by the liberty every man has to order his life the way he so chooses. These causes however are not all based on necessity. A great example is that of American’s richest innovated, Bill Gates. The cause of this man is to have a computer in every single household in America. This is a great and noble cause but it is not based at all in necessity. The necessity of this man is no more than a fanciful desire to complete himself, however it has no affect on whether or not he lives or dies.

Hobbs’ statement that liberty and necessity are consistent stems from the belief that a need is not only that which we must have to survive, but it is anything we ‘must have’. This humanistic hyperbole is just that, an overstatement of the truth and attempt to force their desires into existence. Not every desire of men is based off of a need, and therefore not every action stemming from man’s desire is based off necessity.

Hobbs’ does strike a spot of truth however when he describes how fear and liberty are consistent. Hobbs says this in response to the human condition of being surrounded by those who constantly pick and prod at every flaw and mistake they make. To compensate for this men purposefully mold their actions to fit the law and code of society. In affect every action of man is committed for fear of what society will think or do if what they say and do does not fit the standard. As Hobbs says that every action of men done in full liberty in the common wealth stems from the fear of the law, he is describing this process. One might also relate this to the law and the criminal who decides not to steal his neighbors cow because the law states he must be punished severely for doing so.

Another example of the relationship between fear and liberty comes from the governmental system. Men everyday in the government system of America have the full liberty to make decisions and statements according to the wants and desires of the American people. This liberty, however, is guided by the fear of America’s acceptance of these decisions and statements. In this way liberty and fear are intertwined.

Thomas Hobbs’ description of the relatedness of fear and liberty is based in fact and can be shown in today’s society. However his definition of necessity stems from mans belief that desire equals necessity and this is untrue.