POST #7: Hobbes, Mill, v. Marx
Topic: Explain Hobbes egoist position in detail and how does this differ from Mill’s understand of human nature? Compare Marx to both Hobbes and Mill’s (and Bentham’s) utilitarianism? How would he agree with them and how would he disagree?
Hobbes, Mill, v. Marx
Thomas Hobbes, John Stuart Mill, and Karl Marx are three of the most prominent figures in the socio-political field. They are philosophers who each hold a unique position regarding ethics, morality, and their relations to the society.
Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher who believes in social contract ethics. His philosophies put strong emphasis on materialism, the theory that physical matter is the only reality that constitutes the greatest good and highest value in life.
Hobbes believes that all humans have egoistic natures. Therefore, he argues that societies are originated, not out of natural feeling for other people, but out of self-interest and fear. Facing much criticism toward such beliefs, Hobbes justifies his theory by saying “there are no grounds for objections against self-interested action in the natural state” (Great Traditions, 98).
According to Hobbes, the sole purpose for the existence of society is to help further each individual’s interests and happiness. Moreover, Hobbes maintains that without the formation of civil societies, there are no established moral systems. Hobbes thinks that humans’ ethical judgments are based on self-preservation by nature. Therefore, absolute sovereignty is necessary to control people’s conscience and prevent competitions that arise from conflicts of interests among individuals.
The second philosopher of the discussion, John Stuart Mill, is an intellectual heir of the Utilitarian movement in England who abides by “the greatest happiness principle”. Mill’s theory of morals Utility is not original; however, he defended the theory better than anyone else did by clarifying the doctrine.
In Mill’s clarification, he states that the moral systems are established based on an action’s tendency to generate happiness. Something that is morally right shall produce happiness, which is pleasure, and something that is morally wrong shall produce unhappiness, which is characterized by pain and the privation of pleasure.
Hobbes’ theories and Mill’s theories may seem similar at first glance since they both emphasize the pursuit of individual’s interests; however, the two philosophers actually have quite contrasting theories in small details concerning the ways to pursue such interests.
Central to Mill's philosophy was that "over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign," but that political philosophy should be guided by what is good for society as a whole. Hobbes’ theories, on the other hand, conclude that state sovereignty is essential. Also, rather than pursuing what is good for a society as a whole, Hobbes thinks the society serves merely as a mean to achieve what is good for people as individuals.
The last philosopher, Karl Marx, is the most controversial social reformer of the past century. During Marx’s study of law and philosophy, he developed a materialistic theory of history as science. Moreover, Marx devoted much of his life to communist causes, and his concepts have greatly influenced modern socialism.
With the help of Friedrich Engels, another writer who promoted socialism, Marx explained historical development in terms of the interaction of contradictory economic forces in his best-known work, The Communist Manifesto and Das Kapital. Marx’s theory predicts the triumph of the working class.
Moreover, Karl Marx views morality as ideology. According to Marx, morality is not a product of pure reason and has no independent status like most people think it does. He argues that moral values are ideological in character; they are effects of material forces and are thus determined by the economic conditions of the society.
Karl Marx’s theories are similar to John Hobbes’ in that they both think morality is not independent but a by-product of the formation of societies. Marx and Mill are also similar in that they both value worldly, material goodness. However, Marx may disagree with both Hobbes’ and Mill on other issues because Hobbes and Mill both stress the pursuit of individual wellness while Marx values the betterment of the society as a whole.
Hobbes, Mill, v. Marx
Thomas Hobbes, John Stuart Mill, and Karl Marx are three of the most prominent figures in the socio-political field. They are philosophers who each hold a unique position regarding ethics, morality, and their relations to the society.
Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher who believes in social contract ethics. His philosophies put strong emphasis on materialism, the theory that physical matter is the only reality that constitutes the greatest good and highest value in life.
Hobbes believes that all humans have egoistic natures. Therefore, he argues that societies are originated, not out of natural feeling for other people, but out of self-interest and fear. Facing much criticism toward such beliefs, Hobbes justifies his theory by saying “there are no grounds for objections against self-interested action in the natural state” (Great Traditions, 98).
According to Hobbes, the sole purpose for the existence of society is to help further each individual’s interests and happiness. Moreover, Hobbes maintains that without the formation of civil societies, there are no established moral systems. Hobbes thinks that humans’ ethical judgments are based on self-preservation by nature. Therefore, absolute sovereignty is necessary to control people’s conscience and prevent competitions that arise from conflicts of interests among individuals.
The second philosopher of the discussion, John Stuart Mill, is an intellectual heir of the Utilitarian movement in England who abides by “the greatest happiness principle”. Mill’s theory of morals Utility is not original; however, he defended the theory better than anyone else did by clarifying the doctrine.
In Mill’s clarification, he states that the moral systems are established based on an action’s tendency to generate happiness. Something that is morally right shall produce happiness, which is pleasure, and something that is morally wrong shall produce unhappiness, which is characterized by pain and the privation of pleasure.
Hobbes’ theories and Mill’s theories may seem similar at first glance since they both emphasize the pursuit of individual’s interests; however, the two philosophers actually have quite contrasting theories in small details concerning the ways to pursue such interests.
Central to Mill's philosophy was that "over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign," but that political philosophy should be guided by what is good for society as a whole. Hobbes’ theories, on the other hand, conclude that state sovereignty is essential. Also, rather than pursuing what is good for a society as a whole, Hobbes thinks the society serves merely as a mean to achieve what is good for people as individuals.
The last philosopher, Karl Marx, is the most controversial social reformer of the past century. During Marx’s study of law and philosophy, he developed a materialistic theory of history as science. Moreover, Marx devoted much of his life to communist causes, and his concepts have greatly influenced modern socialism.
With the help of Friedrich Engels, another writer who promoted socialism, Marx explained historical development in terms of the interaction of contradictory economic forces in his best-known work, The Communist Manifesto and Das Kapital. Marx’s theory predicts the triumph of the working class.
Moreover, Karl Marx views morality as ideology. According to Marx, morality is not a product of pure reason and has no independent status like most people think it does. He argues that moral values are ideological in character; they are effects of material forces and are thus determined by the economic conditions of the society.
Karl Marx’s theories are similar to John Hobbes’ in that they both think morality is not independent but a by-product of the formation of societies. Marx and Mill are also similar in that they both value worldly, material goodness. However, Marx may disagree with both Hobbes’ and Mill on other issues because Hobbes and Mill both stress the pursuit of individual wellness while Marx values the betterment of the society as a whole.
posted by Mavis Chao at 12:50 PM
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