Abstract
Hobbes and Construction of Modern Politics from the Perspective of Leo Strauss
The modern political philosophy which emerged in reaction to classical political philosophy became apparent with the modernity led by Machiavelli according to Strauss. Hobbes who was inspired by Machiavelli’s thought on classical political philosophy tried to apply mathematical methods to society and human beings by connecting modern natural sciences with political understanding. Contrary to Machiavelli, who cuts the relationship between natural law and politics, Hobbes rebuilt the notion of natural right. Instead of classical perception that puts duty in the center, Hobbes who counted the “fear of violent death” that is the most basic sensation of man as a starting point, adopted the rights-based political approach. The aim of this work that puts Strauss’s interpretation into the center is to question the changes in political philosophy and problematize on which foundations Hobbes built the philosophy of modern politics. This theory of Hobbes, the so-called first philosophy of power, also pioneered the transition from a virtuous life conception to a comfort-oriented life design by separating “morality” from “politics”.
Keywords
Strauss, Hobbes, modern politics, state of nature, civil society, rights, duty.
