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
30. It is evident by what hath hitherto been said, how easily the
laws of nature are to be observed, because they require the
endeavour only, (but that must be true and constant); which whoso
shall perform, we may rightly call him _just_. For he who tends to
this with his whole might, namely, that his actions be squared
according to the precepts of nature, he shows clearly that he hath a
mind to fulfil all those laws; which is all we are obliged to by
rational nature. Now he that hath done all he is obliged to, is a
just man.
[Sidenote: The natural law is the same with the moral.]
31. All writers do agree, that the natural law is the same with the
moral. Let us see wherefore this is true. We must know, therefore,
that good and evil are names given to things to signify the
inclination or aversion of them, by whom they were given. But the
inclinations of men are diverse, according to their diverse
constitutions, customs, opinions; as we may see in those things we
apprehend by sense, as by tasting, touching, smelling; but much more
in those which pertain to the common actions of life, where what
this man commends, that is to say, calls _good_, the other
undervalues, as being evil. Nay, very often the same man at diverse
times praises and dispraises the same thing. Whilst thus they do,
necessary it is there should be discord and strife. They are,
therefore, so long in the state of war, as by reason of the
diversity of the present appetite, they mete good and evil by
diverse measures. All men easily acknowledge this state, as long as
they are in it, to be evil, and by consequence that peace is good.
They therefore who could not agree concerning a present, do agree
concerning a future good; which indeed is a work of reason; for
things present are obvious to the sense, things to come to our
reason only. Reason declaring peace to be good, it follows by the
same reason, that all the necessary means to peace be good also; and
therefore that modesty, equity, trust, humanity, mercy, (which we
have demonstrated to be necessary to peace), are good manners or
habits, that is, virtues. The law therefore, in the means to peace,
commands also good manners, or the practice of virtue; and therefore
it is called _moral_.
[Sidenote: Whence it comes to pass, that what hath been said
concerning the law, is not the same with what hath been
delivered by philosophers concerning the virtues.]