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Thomas Hobbes

-- Interested in the definition of authority, how it is justified, and how individual liberty can be maintained within it

-- Creates the idea of a "state of nature"

-- Within the state of nature each of us are individuals who are equal (in the sense that we can kill each other)= we are also born with an equal desire for goods, glory, respect, etc. . . . -= this puts us with competition with each other that creates a constant state of individual v individual that is chaotic and insecure -- so while we are in perfect liberty we are mired in an organized state of terror

-- To escape this state of nature we voluntarily and rationally band together to protect ourselves from each other and from external threats.

-- "I" becomes "we" in an act or rational thought re-presented by writing (The Leviathan becomes alive) It is important to note that the polity is not uniform but still consists of individuals

-- By banding together the collective creates a constitution through writing - this creates a verbal fabrication (i.e. it's not natural) for a government

-- The individual authorizes (as an author) that they will be "re-presented" by an actor who will embody their will -- once you have consented to be governed you can never leave -- you are permanently tied to your fellow citizens -- but if your actor steps beyond their authorization then their actions are no law at all -- it is null (formless) and void (containing no substance)

For Hobbes this is all a two-part process that happens simultaneously

          1- collectivity - we agree to be part of a common community but can't yet make decisions about what the collective can do

          2- Unity (sovereignty) - the single face of all is generated by the creation of a commonwealth - that face decides what is in the best interests               of the community - so long as it acts within its authorized powers -               can be a king, oligarchy, democracy, etc. . . .

-- Government is there to regulate those who deviate and is entitled to do so

-- Because you joined to protect your life you are not required to cooperate in your own execution-- of course the gov is still within its rights to execute you, but you can resist -- this is important because the individual is retaining those rights that they sought to ensure by the creation of the polity/government

-- there is never a reason to destroy the government because to do so would return us to a state of nature