Individualism is inherent in Hobbes' absolutist ideology. Comment. (UPSC CSE Mains 2022 - Political Science and International Relations, Paper 1)
Thomas Hobbes expounded the theory of social contract. The state of nature of Hobbes represents the pre-social and pre-political phase of human society, (i.e.) prior to the formation of the state. The life of man in the state of nature was miserable. Competition, diffidence and love of glory were the three causes for the strife in the state of nature. Law and justice were absent. In such an atmosphere the "fittest" survived.
Men have craved for peace and security. Hobbes says that they entered into a contract among themselves to forin a civil society or a commonwealth, which would ensure security of life and property. All the individuals surrenlered their natural rights to a person or body of persons. This person or the body of persons became the sovereign. The surrender of rights was total. The individuals did not retain any rights with themselves. The sovereign was not a party to the contract or agreement. He was the product ol the contract or agreement. The sovereign was not bound by any of the contract conditions. The sovereign derived all authority from the contract which could not be revoked. The people have no right to protest against the authority of the sovereign. They were expected to render unquestioned obedience.
However the individual does not surrender those rights which by the law of nature are necessary for self-preservation. The people surrendered their natural rights for the sake of self-preservation. The sovereign is given all the power only to protect the life of the individual. The individual may even transfer his loyalty to any different authority which could guarantce preservation of life and limb, even in the absence of the laws.
Although, Hobbes argues for an absolute state and demands the obedience of his citizens to the laws of the state, he also gives the right of revolution in one respect. He says that the sovereign comes into existence only to protect the lives of the people and he cannot do any thing that will go against the safety and security of the individual lives. In spite of conceding the right to revolution in exceptional circumstances, Hobbes insists that the people should not normally resist the authority of the sovereign. From what Hobbes says, we can say that the individual''s interest is safeguarded in spite of the existence of Leviathan with absolute sovereignty.
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