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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Hobbes say a person is doing when he stops defending himself?

2. What does Hobbes identify as three basic human fears?

3. Why does Hobbes say that people are always seeking more power, wealth, or popularity?

4. Why does Hobbes say that virtue is comparative?

5. What example does Hobbes give to support his idea that just banding together is not enough for protection?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Hobbes say that a group may be classified as an author?

2. Why does Hobbes say men will give up some of their freedoms?

3. In what way does Hobbes warn against errors in logic or speech?

4. How does Hobbes say a person can increase intellectual virtue?

5. In any political situation, what does Hobbes identify as a basic right?

6. Why does Hobbes insist that the people cannot protest against a sovereign?

7. Briefly, what does Hobbes have to say about lawful and unlawful systems?

8. How does Hobbes describe a despotic dominion?

9. How does Hobbes differentiate between command and counsel?

10. What does Hobbes say about justice, gratitude, modesty, equity, and mercy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a paper speculating what Hobbes would have to say about popular science fictions today. Explain the things he would find objectionable and give examples of books, movies, or video games in your paper. For extra enjoyment, you might want to write the paper in the form of a dialogue.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay about the absence of law in nature as supposed by Hobbes. Explain if you think man is basically evil and can only be controlled by fear. If that is the case, how would you explain people getting together to form a commonwealth.

Essay Topic 3

In Hobbes' political philosophy, the only valid reason for taking up arms against a sovereign is for self protection. Write your paper based on Hitler's taking over Germany and the plight of the Jews and other minorities his persecuted. Hobbes' theory is that the people thus under such a sovereign are constrained to obey the laws of the sovereign first.

(see the answer keys)

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