English philosopher Thomas Hobbes was famously known for his authoritarian philosophy that praised the rights of Absolute Monarchs. Hobbes seems to suggest that Laws, despite limiting the freedoms of individual people, is ultimately for their own Good. Laws are only lawful if they can be enforced by a Sovereign. Hobbes says that nothing a Sovereign does can properly be called an injustice. Furthermore, any liberties individuals do have only exist because the Sovereign chooses to ignore such excesses.

“If we take Liberty, for an exemption from Lawes, it is absurd, for men to demand as they doe, that Liberty, by which all other men may be masters of their lives. And yet as absurd as it is, this is it they demand; not know that the Lawes are of no power to protect them, without a Sword in the hands of a man, or men, to cause those laws to be put in execution. The Liberty of a Subject, lyeth therefore only in those things, which in regulating their actions, the Soveraign hath praetermitted… The Soveraign Power of life, and death, is never abolished, or limited. For it has been already shewn, that nothing the Soveraign Representative can doe to a Subject, on what pretense soever, can properly be called Injustice, or Injury; because every Subject is Author of every act the Soveraign doth.”

Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan. (264-265)

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For English philosopher Thomas Hobbes, prior to societies, humanity existed in a state of nature. In such a state, value judgments are meaningless. Hobbes states that such values as Justice, Injustice, Right, & Wrong only exist within society. These values are human creations made not in solitude but only in relation with other humans. Furthermore, the enforcement of these values as valuable can only occur through force and the fear of death.

“To this warre of every man against every man, this also is consequent; that nothing can be Unjust. The notions of Right & Wrong, Justice and Injustice have there no place. Where there is no common power, there is no law, where no law, no injustice. Force, and fraud, are in war the two cardinal virtues. Justice, and Injustice are none of the Faculties neither of the Body, nor Mind. If they were, they might be in man alone in the world, as well as his Senses, and Passions. They are Qualities, that relate to men in Society, not in Solitude. It is consequent also to the same condition, that there be no Propriety, no Dominion, no Mine & Thine distinct; but onely that to be every mans that he can get; and for so long, as he can keep it. And this much for the ill condition, which man by meer Nature is actually placed in; though with a possibility to come out of it, consisting partly in the Passions, partly in His Reason. The Passions that encline men to Peace, are Feare of Death; Desire of such things as are necessary to commodious living; and a Hope by their Industry to obtain them. And Reason suggesteth convenient Articles of Peace, upon which men may be drawn to agreement. These Articles, are they, which otherwise are called the Lawes of Nature.

Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan (188)

Citations:

Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan. Buy here!

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