Thomas Hobbes

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• Hobbes says that a simple imagination is one like a horse or a man • A compounded imagination would be if we conjoined together man and horse and came up with the idea of a Centaur ( Part horse and part man ) 8 Imagination and Dreams • Hobbes says that “ The imaginations of them that sleep are those we call dreams.” • Hobbes believed that if the body was cold a fearful dream would occur and if the body was overheated it would cause anger and an associated enemy might be in the dream. 9 Dreams and Superstition • Hobbes believes that superstition and beliefs in fictitious creatures may be a result from people not being able to distinguish dreams from apparent visions and also things like fairies, ghosts and goblins. • He criticizes the schools for not eliminating these superstitions and in some instances taking advantage of the ignorance of the masses. 10 Signs and Language • Understanding, according to Hobbes, is not only his will but also involves his concepts and thoughts. • A train of thoughts is a succession of ideas as one thought leads to another. Hobbes calls this Mental Discourse. • Mental Discourse is of two sorts. 11 Mental Discourse • There are two kinds of mental discourse • Unguided thoughts are one’s that are ones that lack a design or end state • These are common with persons that let their mind wander • Regulated thoughts have a directing desire and a definite design. • These kinds of thoughts often become strong and permanent 12 Mental Discourse 13 Regulated Thoughts • Hobbes explains that when the mind is regulated by design it can be generalized as seeking. The train of regulated thoughts also can be divided into two kinds • Two Kinds of regulated thoughts • When we reason from effect to the cause • This is common to man and beast • When we reason from cause to effect • Hobbes says this type of thought is found only in man 14 Seeking and Causation 15 Hobbes On Time 2
• Hobbes claims that “ The “present” only has a being in nature.” • Hobbes explains that the past has a being in memory only. • The future, according to Hobbes, is a fiction of the mind. Hobbes believes that we use our ability to predict to guess about what will happen in the future. 16 Hobbes on the Infinite • Hobbes believes that the human understanding can only comprehend the finite. • “Whatsoever we imagine is finite.” • According to Hobbes, all discussion of the infinite is just an expression of having no conception of the thing in question. 17 Hobbes on the Passions • Animals have two sorts of motion. Hobbes calls these two motions vital and voluntary motion. • Vital motion include such things as flow of the blood and breathing. Processes that occur without imagination • Voluntary Motion include speaking, and moving by will. These motions involve a starting point with imagination 18 Two Kinds of Motion 19 Hobbes discusses Language • Hobbes goes into great detail into the meaning of words and often discusses their Latin and Greek meanings. • Language is a tool that allows mankind to express his or her emotions. • Hobbes explains that a voluntary act proceeds from the will and that we are driven by the things we desire. 20 Knowledge is of two kinds • There are two kinds of knowledge • Knowledge of fact • This includes sense and memory and corresponds to facts we have experienced in the present or the past • Science • Science is conditional and is required by the philosopher. Hobbes gives an example • “ If the figure shown to be a circle, then any straight line through the center shall divide it into two equal parts 21 Knowledge of Fact as History • Hobbes identifies knowledge of fact with History. He then divides History into two kinds. • Natural history – History of facts of nature that are not dependent on man’s will • Civil History – History of voluntary actions of men in commonwealths 22 Science involves books of demonstrations • Hobbes gives an extensive table to divide the different categories of 3
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Thomas Hobbes

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