Mises Institute Hobbes’s Accidental Case Against the State
Nov 7, 2025
In this thought-provoking discussion, Joshua Mahorder, a Contributor to the Mises Institute, critically examines Hobbes's theories on the state. He argues that Hobbes's views on human nature actually undermine his justification for state power. Mahorder highlights the dangers of concentrating power in a ruling class and references Madison and Jefferson to illustrate the risks of empowering fallible humans. He contrasts state violence with individual crime, challenging listeners to rethink the effectiveness of government as a solution to conflict.
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Hobbes’s Core Argument For The State
- Hobbes argues that natural human aggression creates a state-of-nature war where everyone has a right to everything, producing insecurity.
- He concludes people surrender rights to a sovereign with a monopoly on coercion to secure peace and enable prosperity.
Insist On Enforceable Rights, Not Just Principles
- Recognize that peace and prosperity depend on security and enforceable rights, not just moral claims to property.
- Demand enforcement mechanisms and cultural recognition to make property rights meaningful in practice.
Power Concentration Amplifies Human Danger
- The same dangerous impulses Hobbes attributes to individuals also exist in rulers who hold concentrated power, making them potentially more harmful.
- Granting political elites monopoly coercion relocates and likely amplifies the problem rather than solving it.
