Thomas Hobbes In William Golding's Lord Of The Flies

Thomas Hobbes, a British philosopher also known as an egoist due to his belief of what he thought of humans. Hobbes has the belief, "that humans are selfish by nature and only come into some form of civil agreement because we fear what might happen to each other if we were free to indulge our selfish instincts." The meaning behind Hobbes State of Nature is stated, "If you take away that authority, then you take away all incentive to be good". In other words, Hobbes' has the belief that we as people have questionable or to no responsibility and selflessness about our own selves to conduct peace or civility without authority. As to what Hobbes stated about selfishness I do agree, because in today's society and well before our day and age which I am sure it still existed, that
some people are only for themselves rather than helping others when needed. More people are so intrigued on competing with one another rather than helping build up one another which is very egotistical. Whereas, I do not agree with Hobbes statement that if we as humans fall under lawless conditions life is, "nasty, brutish, and short". As a human I will stand up for what is right whether or not I am answering to authority or under someone else's authority, although the world would be a more brutal place than it already is without authority not all people are selfish and unruly as Hobbes has the belief that all humans are self centered. With or without authority their will always be someone to do the wrong things with the hope of not getting caught and some with no care in being caught. As humans we do need authority such as the police, the military, government officials, etc. We need structure in our lives, if we did not have structured lives we would not know which way to go and also have no moral standards. Although, authority can not always solve all the issues which take place for example within the last few months people have been very unruly by rioting, vandalizing, police brutality as well as killing one another but without authority being instilled these things could be much worst and go a lot further than what they have. In life, there has to be some type of authority whether its on the job, a household, government laws, state laws, school restrictions, church rules and the list continues. Those are some things as well as many other things that have to be instilled in humans. Everyone knows right from wrong, whether one chooses to do the right thing or not has to do with self.
Structure is the essential key in life, having a structured private life can steer away many unnecessary problems. The Lord of Flies relates closely to what Hobbes has stated about humans due to the connection of the story which was told of a young group of guys ages 6-12 facing a number of challenges when they were stranded on an island. These young lost of their moral standards under the circumstances they were under which lead them to be under state of nature in which Hobbes would say. Without having authority such as their parents or someone to guild them in the right direction lead them to do things they would not have down if they were under authority which were violent and unjust. John Locke a English philosopher stated a quote to be true, "Wherever law ends, tyranny begins." I do merely agree with Hobbes thought of human nature because people are very selfish also without authority things would be much worst than they already are but I do not agree to life being "nasty, brutish, and short." I do believe life is what you make of it, everyone has their own choice of how their own life
goes.