He addresses the concern that life under an absolute monarchy is wretched and depressing and responds that any form of government sufficiently powerful to protect their subjects’ lives is accused of this (XVIII, 336) A Hobbesian might go on to say that life in the state of nature is not only more violent, but unpredictable and erratic. While life in the commonwealth may be miserable, the source of people’s misery is consistent and thus, in a way, more peaceful. Regardless of what the sovereign may or may not provide, it is an extension of the will of the people in their desire to avoid the violent death characteristic of the state of
He addresses the concern that life under an absolute monarchy is wretched and depressing and responds that any form of government sufficiently powerful to protect their subjects’ lives is accused of this (XVIII, 336) A Hobbesian might go on to say that life in the state of nature is not only more violent, but unpredictable and erratic. While life in the commonwealth may be miserable, the source of people’s misery is consistent and thus, in a way, more peaceful. Regardless of what the sovereign may or may not provide, it is an extension of the will of the people in their desire to avoid the violent death characteristic of the state of