The Definition of Natural Law in Thomas Hobbes' Work, Leviathan

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Published: Mar 25, 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/ethiki.22748
Keywords:
Thomas Hobbes; Leviathan; Natural Law (Lex Naturalis); Natural Right (Jus Naturale); State of Nature; Social Contract; Sovereignty; Modernity
Panagiota Vassi
Abstract

This article presents a critical analysis of the definition of natural law (lex naturalis) as articulated in Thomas Hobbes’ seminal 1651 work, Leviathan. Set against the turbulent backdrop of the English Civil War, the study explores how Hobbes’ transition from the "state of nature"—characterized by a "war of all against all"—to a structured "Commonwealth" is predicated on the dictates of reason. The author distinguishes between "natural right" (jus naturale), which signifies the liberty to preserve one's own life, and "natural law," which acts as a precept of reason forbidding self-destruction. The paper further examines the social contract as a logical necessity for peace, noting that for Hobbes, these laws of nature are not truly "laws" in the legal sense until they are commanded by a sovereign power.

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