The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 02 (of 11) — Thomas Hobbes — John Shaqi
The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 02 (of 11)
Thomas Hobbes · en
10. Nature hath given to _every one a right to all_; that is, it was
lawful for every man, in the bare state of nature,[3] or before such
time as men had engaged themselves by any covenants or bonds, to do
what he would, and against whom he thought fit, and to possess, use,
and enjoy all what he would, or could get. Now because whatsoever a
man would, it therefore seems good to him because he wills it, and
either it really doth, or at least seems to him to contribute
towards his preservation, (but we have already allowed him to be
judge, in the foregoing article, whether it doth or not, insomuch as
we are to hold all for necessary whatsoever he shall esteem so), and
by the 7th article it appears that by the right of nature those
things may be done, and must be had, which necessarily conduce to
the protection of life and members, it follows, that in the state of
nature, to have all, and do all, is lawful for all. And this is that
which is meant by that common saying, _nature hath given all to
all_. From whence we understand likewise, that in the state of
nature profit is the measure of right.
Footnote 3:
_In the bare state of nature._ This is thus to be understood: what
any man does in the bare state of nature, is injurious to no man;
not that in such a state he cannot offend God, or break the laws
of nature; for injustice against men presupposeth human laws, such
as in the state of nature there are none. Now the truth of this
proposition thus conceived, is sufficiently demonstrated to the
mindful reader in the articles immediately foregoing; but because
in certain cases the difficulty of the conclusion makes us forget
the premises, I will contract this argument, and make it most
evident to a single view. Every man hath right to protect himself,
as appears by the seventh article. The same man therefore hath a
right to use all the means which necessarily conduce to this end,
by the eighth article. But those are the necessary means which he
shall judge to be such, by the ninth article. He therefore hath a
right to make use of, and to do all whatsoever he shall judge
requisite for his preservation; wherefore by the judgment of him
that doth it, the thing done is either right or wrong, and
therefore right. True it is therefore in the bare state of nature,
&c. But if any man pretend somewhat to tend necessarily to his
preservation, which yet he himself doth not confidently believe
so, he may offend against the laws of nature, as in the third
chapter of this book is more at large declared. It hath been
objected by some: if a son kill his father, doth he him no injury?
I have answered, that a son cannot be understood to be at any time
in the state of nature, as being under the power and command of
them to whom he owes his protection as soon as ever he is born,
namely, either his father’s or his mother’s, or him that nourished
him; as is demonstrated in the ninth chapter.