Liberty, Rationality, and Agency in Hobbes’s Leviathan Liberty, Rationality, and Agency in Hobbes’s Leviathan David van Mill STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK PRESS Published by State University of New York Press,Albany © 2001 State University of New York All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher. For information,address State University of New York Press, 90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany,NY 12207 Production by Diane Ganeles Marketing by Michael Campochiaro Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data van Mill,David. Liberty,rationality,and agency in Hobbes’s Leviathan / David van Mill. p.cm Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7914-5035-X (alk.paper)—ISBN 0-7914-5036-8 (pbk.:alk. paper) 1.Hobbes,Thomas,1588–1679.Leviathan.2.Liberty.I.Title. JC153.H659 V35 2001 320.1—dc21 00-045053 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 To my parents Contents Acknowledgments xi Part I:Introduction and Theoretical Framework Chapter 1.Introduction 3 Summary of the Chapters 4 Chapter 2.The Scope of Freedom 13 Introduction 13 Charles Taylor and Positive Freedom 15 Flathman and Negative Freedom26 Flathman on Autonomy 28 Internal and External Freedom 33 Conclusion 41 Part II:Freedom,Autonomy,Rationality, and Morality Chapter 3.Hobbes and Negative Freedom 47 Introduction 47 External Freedom and Causality 48 Freedom and Will 53 Fear and Freedom55 vii viii Contents Obligation and Freedom 62 The State of Nature The Laws of Nature and the Right of Nature Civil Society Conclusion 69 Chapter 4.The Internal Conditions of Freedom: Complex Instrumental Rationality and Autonomy 73 Introduction 73 Instrumental Rationality 75 Hobbesian Rationality:Good as the Promise of Things to Come 79 Rationality and Coherent Action:Good as Utile 91 Conclusion 94 Chapter 5.The Internal Conditions of Freedom: Substantive Rationality and Autonomy 97 Introduction 97 Substantive Rationality and Autonomy: Good as Jucundum 103 Rationality and Self-regarding Actions 112 Rationality and Other-regarding Actions 115 Conclusion 117 Chapter 6.Voluntarism and Morality 119 Introduction 119 Hobbes’s Psychology 122 Psychological Egoism 125 Morality 129 Conclusion 149 Contents ix Part III:External Freedom Chapter 7.Freedom,Equality,and the Laws of Nature 153 Introduction 153 The Harm Principle and the Protection of Freedom and Equality 156 The Laws of Nature and the Sovereign 162 Sovereignty and Democracy 175 Education,Censorship,Religion,Free Association,and the Preservation of Peace and Freedom 182 Education and Order Censorship Freedom of Association Religion and Order Conclusion 196 Part IV:Conclusion Chapter 8.Hobbes’s Dualism 205 Introduction 205 Determinism 207 Consent 209 Equality 212 Power 213 Conclusion 216 Notes 217 Bibliography 241 Index 249