Women are in the Same State of Nature as Men
Women live in the same state of nature as menHobbes' understanding of human nature and the state of nature is not gender-biassed. Although his syntax is male oriented, I believe that Hobbes thought of men and women as having the same nature. That is, in the absence of an authority figure, both sexes would have a "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short" (316) life. I propose that Hobbes' "three principal causes of quarrel. First, competition; secondly, diffidence; thirdly, glory" (316), apply in both the nature of man and woman. There will be disorder from either of the sexes exhibiting competition, diffidence and glory. Why, according to Hobbes, should women expect as miserable a life as men should? Women's aspirations today to fulfill traditional female roles and a desire to be as successful as men impel women to competition, diffidence and glory.In considering competition as a factor giving rise to conflict in a disorganized state of nature, Hobbes had in mind persons obtaining the resources they wanted by overcoming anyone who stood in the way. The goal for 'man' is to gain whatever is necessary to hold the upper hand and disadvantage any competitors for those resources. The g
She is deemed to be more successful than the father is because she is the architect of the product. One might think that the examples in the television soap operas are exaggerations invented for entertainment. As women better understand the discrimination they often face, they will have no fears in pushing for the promotions and salary increases that they deserve in order to protect what they have gained through pushing forward. Of course, there is always the risk of loss of reputation if the child ends up as a delinquent. The competition to overcome opponents in securing resources is a no holds barred activity. After all, a woman's child is an extension of herself. When her child is successful, she is seen to be successful. One way in which women work to achieve distinction from other women is through what could be termed their agents of glory-their children. In fact, rather than waiting for your safety to be threatened why not attack first in keeping with the view that attack is the best form of defense. Certainly, women are as diffident, if not more so, than men. Both women and men act aggressively in resolving competition, diffidence and glory. In short, Hobbes' theories of the state of nature are as applicable to women as they are to men. Scarborough: Prentice Hall Canada Inc. What about the argument that the nature of women differs from that of men and Hobbes would have understood this. I have shown that Hobbes' understanding of human nature and the state of nature could not be gender-biassed because the inclusion of women in his theory does not upset the theory.
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Acceptance Essays
