Theories of Morals by Hobbes

Hobbes presented one of the earliest modern theories of morals. He was deeply indebted to the stress of his time and system. According to him man are one another’s enemies by nature and it’s only by force or fear that they can be restrained from internecine hostility.

• It is the perception of this truth which led to the monarchical and absolute forms of government. It was only by this centralising and gathering of power which when directed against the disturber of peace that all individual members in society could hold their property safely.
• The king rules by right of human necessity and any obedience to him and to the constituted authorities is the sum of virtue.
• As per him, conscience is just another name for fear of punishment.
• It was the intimate connection of religion with civil freedom in the English Commonwealth which uprooted all religious faith in Hobbes and he maintained the duty of entire conformity to the monarch’s religion.