I have been writing an assignment about Rousseau and Hobbes and have been thinking about their philosophys. They both have very good arguments as to why we should 'obey the state'. I think it is important to obey rules, or obey the sovereign because without it the world would be chaos. There are so many nasty evil people out there who, if left without a ruler would make the state a dishonest and chaotic place to be. I think that is important in these times where, thieveing and rape are rife that there is some sort of pressure applied from the law to prevent this kind of thing happening.

''No more laws! No more judges! Liberty, equality, and practical human sympathy are the only effective barriers we can oppose to the anti-social instincts of certain among us''

(Peter Kropotkin, Law and authority (1886) repr. in The Anarchist Reader, 117)

This quote has left me wondering if the restriction of what people can do is what makes people rebel to do things. Is the fact that you can't steal enough to make someone steal?! And if stealing was allowed would it be a thing of the past?!

Hobbes believed that the fundamental law of nature was to seek peace , if others are doing so, but otherwise to use the advantages of war. This and Hobbes' other 18 laws, were said to be the 'theorems of reason'. This has led me to think that the idea of seeking peace may be something that we as humans can learn from.

Over and out

Jo Foxon