Political Philosophy Of Thomas

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and a materialist. Empirists believe that sense gives all knowledge. Generally, they do not believe in astrology, god, electrons etc. Their philosophy is summed up by saying that all things that give true knowledge can be sensed. Materialists believe that all things in existence are physical matter. In other words, the soul and the spirit do not exist.

Therefore Hobbes believes that thoughts are material, that they are caused by sense and vice versa.

Tom Sorrell suggests in his essay, entitled "Hobbes' scheme of the sciences", that rather than have knowledge of how the mechanics of the mind's passions work, a more successful way of gaining political knowledge is to understand what these passions cause. They cause various degrees of action, with the possessor going to various extents to achieve what they want.

In chapter six of "De Corpere", Hobbes makes a connection between the knowledge of the principles of politics and the knowledge of the motions of the average human ...

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to run away from a dog because you are scared of dogs.

As it is possible to see these actions are derived from the senses, again agreeing with Hobbes empirist theory.

Endeavours are the small motions within man which occur before he walks, talks, runs or carries out any other voluntary motion. These endeavours are so small that they are undetectable.

By understanding why men act the way that they do, it is easier to come to a conclusion as to how society should be structured.

However, the idea that the existence of a science of man can be questioned suggests that society can be constructed without it. This is due to the fact that many psychological and political theories are founded ...

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