On Hobbesian Resistance Theory

Abstract

As many have observed, Hobbes's political theory contained elements of an inchoate resistance theory. The present article identifies those elements, and considers their significance for the general interpretation of Hobbes's thought. It is suggested that Hobbes's resistance theory provides evidence of his belief that the artificial commonwealth was built upon foundations of natural morality. If the sovereign ruler of any commonwealth infringed natural morality then she might well face the natural punishment of rebellion, even though in the artificial realm of civil law this rebellion could never be justified. In the light of these remarks, the interpretation of Hobbes given by Howard Warrender is reexamined. Although Warrender's conclusion that Hobbes grounded natural morality in the command of God cannot be sustained, it is shown that much else in Warrender's work remains valid. In particular, his contention that Hobbes was a genuine natural law thinker seems more defensible when Hobbesian resistance theory is properly understood.

A Review of Class-Based Theories of Student Resistance in Education

“…Given the objectives of this review to map both the influences that led Willis to the resistance theory he describes along with contemporary understandings of the theory, it was important to review a broad body of literature to capture the potential range of positions held. This presented challenges because resistance theory has been extensively mentioned in broad literatures, because the language used to describe resistance theory also has common usage, and because notions of resistance in education have been described using a wide range of terms, have been implied but not named, or have been described by some shorthand reference such as “resist.” There have also been unrelated theories that go by the same name (Burgess, 2006; Kogut & Komvopoulos, 2003; Van Drunen, 2005–2006). Narrowing the number of articles to be included by means of a review of abstracts would, in most cases and for reasons similar to those just described, have missed too many instances where resistance theory was discussed, a problem given that this review was concerned not just with articles that made resistance theory the primary topic of discussion but also with the ways that resistance theory is broadly understood and used, as evidenced in the literature, even by casual mention.…”

Hobbes on Teleology and Reason

“…12 'The natural philosophy of those schools [of the Grecians], was rather a dream than science, and set forth in senseless and insignificant language; which cannot be avoided by those that will teach philosophy, without having first attained great knowledge in geometry: for nature worketh by motion; the ways and degrees whereof cannot be known, without the knowledge of the proportions and properties of lines, and figures' (Hobbes, 1651: XLVI.11). 13 Commentators disagrees on whether that could be done (Schrock, 1991;Burgess, 1994;Steinberger, 2002;Sheridan, 2011). 14 Though of course that would be useful, and it was a major aim of Hobbes' project of 'cultural transformation' (Johnston, 1986).…”

“…Commentators disagrees on whether that could be done (Schrock, ; Burgess, ; Steinberger, ; Sheridan, ).…”

Thomas Hobbes and John Locke on a Liberal Right of Secession

“… 1. Often, scholars see Hobbes’ argument about self-defense as either politically irrelevant (e.g., Baumgold 1988, 29–30) or as contradictory to his account of sovereignty (e.g., Burgess 1994, 74; Finkelstein 2001, 358; Hampton 1986, 197). In contrast, my argument parallels Petit 2009, 128–29; Sreedhar 2010, 154; and Zagorin 2009, 82.…”