Thomas Hobbes, philosopher of law or legal positivist?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33919/ljnbu.24.2.8Keywords:
Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, Natural Law, Positive LawAbstract
Hobbes’s thought has had a significant impact on political and legal philosophy throughout history and is still present, directly or indirectly, in several approaches to state order and its interaction with civil society. This article aims to outline the convergence of Thomas Hobbes’s ideas with the theory of legal positivism, through an analysis of “Leviathan or The Matter and Form of State Power: Ecclesiastical and Civil” (1651) while also examining his views, which approach natural law. Initially, the main elements of legal theory regarding legal positivism will be presented through the reflections of the American philosopher Ronald Dworkin and the Italian thinker Norberto Bobbio. Subsequently, a thorough examination of the most relevant elements of Hobbes's political philosophy will be carried out, which will facilitate the understanding of its classification as a positivist theory in its essence. This analysis will cover key concepts such as the interpretation of the laws of nature as prudential prescriptions, the imperative to comply with civil law, and the autonomous power of the sovereign to make decisions in relation to the prevailing legal framework.
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