Hobbes’s Natural Rights and Laws

Chapters 14 & 15 of Leviathan

The right of nature, the jus naturale, is the liberty that each man has to use his own power, as he will himself, for the preservation of his own nature—that is to say, of his own life—and consequently of doing anything which, in his own judgment and reason, he shall conceive to be the aptest means thereunto.

By LIBERTY is understood, according to the proper signification of the word, the absence of external impediments.

A LAW OF NATURE, lex naturalis, is a precept or general rule, found out by reason, by which a man is forbidden to do that which is destructive of his life or takes away the means of preserving the same and to omit that by which he thinks it may best be preserved.

1. [The fundamental law of nature]: it is a precept or general rule of reason that every man shall endeavor peace, as far as he has hope of obtaining it, and when he cannot obtain it, that he may seek and use all helps and advantages of war. (=seek peace and follow it) (ch.14)

2. Be willing, when others are so too, as far forth as for peace and defense of yourself you shall think it necessary, to lay down this right [liberty] to all things, and be contented with so much liberty against other men as you would allow other men against yourself. (14)

3. Perform the covenants [promises] that you make. No covenant, no justice: Epicurus. (15)

4. When you receive a freely given benefit from someone, show gratitude. Say thank you. (15)

5. Try to accommodate yourself to those around you. Be agreeable. (15)

6. Forgive the people that have offended you who want to be forgiven. Forgive us our trespasses . . . . (15)

7. In revenges, look to the good that can follow, not the magnitude of the past evil. (15)

8. Do not declare your hatred or contempt of other by deed, word, countenance, or gesture. (15)

9. Acknowledge others as your equal. Avoid pride. (15)

10. When making peace with someone, do not reserve any rights that you do not want others to reserve to themselves. (15)

11. If serving as a judge, deal equally with the contending parties. Fairness. (15)

12. When sharing something, be willing to enjoy it in common; if quantities permit, distribute equally. Fairness. (15)

13. If sharing or equal distribution is not possible, determine possession by lot. (15)

14. On types of lot: primogeniture or agreed procedure. (15)

15. Allow all mediators of peace safe conduct. (15)

16. Settle controversies with others by submitting to an arbitrator. (15)

17. Do not be the judge of your own cause. (15)

18. Do not judge a dispute if you are an interested party. (15)

19. In factual disputes, as judge, consider no more than three or four witnesses. (15)

The science [study] of these rules is the true and only moral philosophy. For moral philosophy is nothing else but the science of what is good and evil in the conversation and society of mankind. (15)