Individualism is inherent in Hobbes’ absolutist ideology. Comment.

Sabine held that “Hobbes’s absolutism is a derivative of his individualism.” In his work 'Leviathan', Hobbes supported absolute, indivisible and inalienable sovereignty. Hobbes views were influenced by the events which took place during his time (English civil war, 1642-51)

Hobbes believed that man is utilitarian due to movement of particles in his mind which creates emotions of inclination and aversion. As a result individuals are guided by their passion (resolutive compositive method). Since individuals are guided by passion, he held that in the state of nature, the law of might is right prevails and life of man is “nasty, poor, brutish and short.”

Hobbes held that man is so individualistic that he cannot live in peace with other men until and unless there is absolute authority. So he held that “man has only two options either to live in a state of absolute authority or absolute anarchy.” To protect the lives of individuals, he gave absolute theory of sovereignty. According to Hobbes, since extreme Liberty leads to anarchy, he gave preference to security over Liberty. He held that, “Liberty is where law is silent.”

However, the main concern of Hobbes was to attain order and security in the society and to protect the lives of the individuals. That is why in his social contract, he held that right to self preservation is an inalienable natural right which even the sovereign cannot take over. In case the sovereign poses a threatto life of people, the individuals have the right to revolt. Hence, it is held that Individualism is inherent in Hobbes’ absolutist ideology.

CB Macpherson criticized Hobbes by stating that, “Hobbes starts as an individualist but ends as an absolutist.” This is because Hobbes created a sovereign which has absolute, indivisible and inalienable power. Though the individual gets right to life but he has no Liberty in others spheres as state is allpervasive. That is why Gandhi also criticized the modern state as an institutionalized form of violence. 

Laski held that every thinker is a child of his times. Hence Hobbes gave the theory of absolute sovereignty because he wanted to preserve the right to life of the individuals. However in the present times, theory of absolute state cannot be justified as it becomes a threat to individual Liberty.