The Logic Of Constructing The Leviathan And Absolute Sovereignty

About national origin, generally there are two views: Natural Theory, God Verdict and Human Theory.The realization of the transformation from Natural Theory, God verdict to Human Theory is Hobbes.It also marked the transition of political philosophy from classical to modern.Hobbes pioneered the mechanical materialism as the basis of his methodology.Humanity Theory is the logical starting point of his political philosophy.Then he deduce the State of Nature, Natural Law, Social Contract, and finally to the production of the Sovereignty and Nation.However,Hobbes's theory of sovereignty has been highly controversial, which centrally embodied in the argument between the liberal and despotism.The key to resolve the dispute lies in whether Humanity Theory can support the whole logic reasoning, in order to make the formation of sovereignty and nation reasonable and legitimate.We need to go deep into the theory system of Hobbes to explore the whole context of his sovereignty theory.In Hobbes's opinion, the reason why the sovereign has absolute sovereignty is decided by the purpose of generating the sovereignty,and those sovereign rights are the essential elements of constructing the state.Talking about subjects'freedom, Hobbes thought that the freedom can not be achieved in the state of nature.In order to free the shackles of freedom, people establish nation.After that,subjects'freedom is the freedom with respect to the law.This paper will divide into three categories of subjects'freedom to discuss: pure freedom, pure obedience, the freedom to refuse,so as to prove that in absolute sovereign state, subjects have certain freedom.In fact, Hobbes thought that the powers of the state were limited.Unwavering sovereignty of the state is the bottom line of the right of the state. And self-preservation is the bottom line of subjects'freedom. Actually the two bottom line is unified.So far as you can see, Hobbes is not authoritarian, but trying to find a balance between freedom and authority.To enable people to live a life of peace and order, Hobbes found a satisfactory way, and that is to create Leviathan.