The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 03 (of 11) — Thomas Hobbes — John Shaqi
The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 03 (of 11)
Thomas Hobbes · en
And first, it is peculiar to the nature of man, to be inquisitive into
the causes of the events they see, some more, some less; but all men so
much, as to be curious in the search of the causes of their own good and
evil fortune.
[Sidenote: From the consideration of the beginning of things.]
Secondly, upon the sight of anything that hath a beginning, to think
also it had a cause, which determined the same to begin, then when it
did, rather than sooner or later.
[Sidenote: From his observation of the sequel of things.]
Thirdly, whereas there is no other felicity of beasts, but the enjoying
of their quotidian food, ease, and lusts; as having little or no
foresight of the time to come, for want of observation, and memory of
the order, consequence, and dependence of the things they see; man
observeth how one event hath been produced by another; and remembereth
in them antecedence and consequence; and when he cannot assure himself
of the true causes of things, (for the causes of good and evil fortune
for the most part are invisible,) he supposes causes of them, either
such as his own fancy suggesteth; or trusteth the authority of other
men, such as he thinks to be his friends, and wiser than himself.
[Sidenote: The natural cause of religion, the anxiety of the time to
come.]
The two first, make anxiety. For being assured that there be causes of
all things that have arrived hitherto, or shall arrive hereafter; it is
impossible for a man, who continually endeavoureth to secure himself
against the evil he fears, and procure the good he desireth, not to be
in a perpetual solicitude of the time to come; so that every man,
especially those that are over provident, are in a state like to that of
Prometheus. For as Prometheus, which interpreted, is, _the prudent man_,
was bound to the hill Caucasus, a place of large prospect, where, an
eagle feeding on his liver, devoured in the day, as much as was repaired
in the night: so that man, which looks too far before him, in the care
of future time, hath his heart all the day long, gnawed on by fear of
death, poverty, or other calamity; and has no repose, nor pause of his
anxiety, but in sleep.
[Sidenote: Which makes them fear the power of invisible things.]