Leviathan Human Nature

In Thomas Hobbes’ most iconic work, Leviathan, in chapter thirteen to sixteen he begins his argument for how human beings should live in society. According to Hobbes, human nature is inherently violent and filled with fear. Hobbes argues that human beings are never satisfied with any amount of power which causes a constant power struggle between human beings. For as long as modern human beings have been around, our species has almost always been at war or some kind of struggle with ne another. Human beings often strive for the same end result, whether it be food or shelter, which puts human beings in a constant struggle and in completion with each other. Throughout Leviathan, Hobbes view of human nature is pretty pessimistic and I have to agree
with his sentiment. Human beings are naturally distrustful; many humans travel with a gun and have alarm systems installed in their homes to feel safe. For me, this shows that human beings are naturally distrustful of one another. According to Hobbes, the law of nature is a general rule about how human beings preserve themselves. He believes human beings should use reason and not be allowed to live a distrustful live and possibly endanger others and themselves. The laws of nature also state that human beings should strive for peace. The first and fundamental law of nature is, "That every man, ought to endeavor Peace, as farre ashe has hope of obtaining it; and when he cannot obtain it, that he may seek, and use, all helps, and advantages of Warre." This stresses the general rule, Seek Peace and Follow It. It also includes the natural right, to defend ourselves. The second law of nature is, "That a man be willing, when others are so too, out of the desire for Peace and necessity for self-defense, to lay down the right to all things, and be content with so much liberty against other men, as he would allow other men against himself." The right to liberty is not merely given up, but is transferred to the Leviathan.
In the law of nature, it is important to first and foremost understand the right of nature that the laws are based on.
As I stated earlier, the right of nature deals with how a human being has the right to do anything to maintain his/her self-preservation. Law of nature is the rule that forbids a person from doing anything to hurt oneself, or take away our self-preservation in any way. The fundamental law of nature states that humans should “seek peace and follow it.” The second law states that human beings should lay own the first absolute right of nature and basically restrain ourselves from pursuing any means necessary. By giving up our first right o nature, human beings can either renounce the right of nature or he/she can transfer the right and give it to a person for some benefit. An example of this could be that you agree to not attack someone if they also agree to not attack you, and thus both humans are transferring their rights of self-preservation.
Hobbes’ state of nature is descriptive, not normative. Descriptive ethics is discussing what exactly human beings think is right and what motivates our behavior. On the other hand, normative ethics deal with how human beings should act and what is right and what is wrong. Hobbes does not believe that there is anything wrong with the passion or desire that causes human beings to be at war with one another. Hobbes states that the reason human beings seek peace is because of our fear of death. The terms of this peace that
humans agree upon is dictated to us by reason which is called the laws of nature.