From the State of Nature to Sovereignty: Thucydidean Foundations of Hobbesian Realism through the Melian Dialogue

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 1, 14 - 22, 30.06.2025

Melek Adsız

https://izlik.org/JA84LM24FX

Abstract

Many critics argue that the early modern political philosopher Thomas Hobbes offers his readers a “framework” that strictly governs the creation of social and political obligation and that Hobbes himself fails to provide a “consistently adhered to and well-defined” set of rules that put those obligations into practice. Hobbes' political theory is reexamined in this work, which shows that his insistence on the unrestricted transfer of infinite subjects' right to self-defense from commonwealth-free installer action by commonwealth sovereigns is either unnecessary or invalid. His published works provide a wealth of evidence supporting this interpretation. This study is going to discuss the life of Thomas Hobbes, state of nature, social contract, realism, and introduction, and emphasize the key moments and thoughts on Thomas Hobbes and his realist ideas. The study, at first, will provide a general evaluation of the life of Thomas Hobbes. Then it will discuss the concept of the state of nature, given Hobbes's idea of man and the state of nature, the formation of Leviathan and the law of nature. Afterwards, Melian Dialog will be analyzed from the realist perspective. The conclusion will summarize the intent of the study.

Keywords

Social Contract , Realism , Leviathan , Human Nature , Melian Dialogue

Doğa Durumundan Egemenliğe: Melian Diyaloğu Üzerinden Hobbesçu Realizmin Tukididesçi Temelleri

https://izlik.org/JA84LM24FX

Abstract

Many critics argue that the early modern political philosopher Thomas Hobbes offers his readers a “framework” that strictly governs the creation of social and political obligation and that Hobbes himself fails to provide a “consistently adhered to and well-defined” set of rules that put those obligations into practice. Hobbes' political theory is reexamined in this work, which shows that his insistence on the unrestricted transfer of infinite subjects' right to self-defense from commonwealth-free installer action by commonwealth sovereigns is either unnecessary or invalid. His published works provide a wealth of evidence supporting this interpretation. This study is going to discuss the life of Thomas Hobbes, Nature Situation and Social Contract, Realism, Introduction emphasize the key moments and thoughts on Thomas Hobbes and his realist ideas. The body, at first, will give a general evaluation of the life of Thomas Hobbes, then it will try to discuss the concept of the state of nature, Given Hobbes's idea of man and the state of nature, the formation of Leviathan and the law of nature, Afterwards, Melian Dialog will be analyzed from the realist perspective. The result will summarize the intent of the study.

Keywords

Leviathan , Toplum Sözleşmesi , Realizm , İnsan Doğası , Melian Diyaloğu

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