In: Psychology
First, how does Thomas Hobbes view humanity? Why is his view so negative? Do you agree with his view? Why or why not? Next, what is the social contract theory? How does a society come out about as a result of said theory? Then, following this, how can ethics naturally come about as well. Finally, what do you ultimately believe is the origin of ethics? Is ethics an innate human trait that comes about while creating human societies? Or is it the result of of something else? Explain your reasoning.
Thomas Hobbes, unlike John Locke presented a very negative or pessimistic view on the state of nature. He suggests that people in the state of nature or brutish, selfish and violent which would lead them to fight each other and the most powerful would gain control over others. Thus, a social contract is essential in which a government would be formed where people would sacrifice some of their rights in return for the government to protect people and their properties from each other. This would mean that in the absence of strict laws people would remain in their primitive state like animals who act on instinct and not reasoning. Most of the ethics in the society is the culmination of years of human endeavours to improve their own condition and of others. Religions and culture played a major role in developing ethical and moral thinking and life in people. Fortunately, most of the religions preached love and kindness towards other people which made people to ponder over life and develop moral codes for their own communities which means moral and ethical standpoint would be relative to each society.
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