"Mere Nature" with Thomas Hobbes at McConnell Springs Park

People are pretty good by nature, right? Thomas Hobbes didn’t think so. An English philosopher who lived from 1588–1679, Hobbes made some dismal statements in his famous book "Leviathan." Hobbes believed that because we all desire the same things to survive--and sometimes these things are scarce--our natural condition is rivalry, mistrust, and a restless struggle for security and power. "If any two men desire the same thing … they become enemies,” Hobbes said. Without some common power to enforce peace, “force and fraud” become the safest tools for getting what we want.

To escape this “condition of mere nature,” a war of every person against every person, Hobbes claimed we must agree to a social contract: we each hand our individual power to one sovereign authority to keep the peace. Abuses of that power may be unfortunate, but Hobbes thought they were a small price compared to the chaos of lawless anarchy. Where political authority is lacking, our only natural right is self-preservation; where it exists, our basic duty is to obey.

Let’s assemble under the trees to imagine life with no civil society and no sovereign to keep the peace. On Saturday, October 18 at McConnell Springs Park (416 Rebmann Ln, Lexington, KY 40504), join us in the amphitheatre right inside the entrance. Feel free to bring snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, per the park's rule. The bathrooms will close at 5 p.m., but the park will stay open until dark! Parking, food, and beverages should be plentiful and not require a war of every guest against every guest. ;-)

Hope to see you there!