O medo: uma paixão política em Thomas Hobbes

Abstract

The present work aims to investigate the role of fear in the unfolding of the political theory of Thomas Hobbes. It is known that men are equal by nature. This equality is also an equal fear, since an individual can not be characterized as stronger than others and this makes them fearful. This fear is not any fear, but fear of losing his life, his greatest asset, so violent. Because they are equal, it may happen that men want the same thing at the same time and that leads to violent confrontation, as Hobbes called a state of war of all against all. From this perspective, men find themselves unprotected and insecure and seek the formation of the body politic the solution to the problem of insecurity. The goal here is to demonstrate that the fear of violent death is a major cause of the state institution, or a political passion motivating the state also has a very important role: to be an ally of the sovereign power in law enforcement and education of subjects.