Original scientific paper
Kavka's Theory on Hobbesian State of Nature and of a Satisfactory State
Zoran Mimica
Abstract
In the frame of this paper the author analyses and discusses the
reintcrpretation of the seventeenth century English political
philosopher Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) given by the contemporary
American philosophcr Gregory S. Kavka. The state of nature. the
social contract (pact) and forming the very first state and the
problem of complience to its new formed government are being
discussed. The question arises how is it possible at all to make the
social contract because it is still a „state of nature contract“, and in
these conditions contracts do not oblige while there is yet no one
to punish rebellion od disobedience. (Rather, the State should be a
result of that contract.) The other question concerns the possibility
of establishing morality in the state of nature, because no authority
is formed there and therefore moral code or positive law system are
nonexistent. The author claims (together with Kavka) thut in spite of
the fact that there exists no entire moral code, the possibility of
elementar traces of morality exists, because morality and nature
(from humanistic outlook) are timeless, as state of nature is, too.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
110792
URI
Publication date:
2.5.1995.
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