Pojem svobody u Thomase Hobbese

• Authors: Miroslav Vacura

Title variants

EN

The Concept of Freedom in Thomas Hobbes

• Languages of publication: CS

Abstracts

EN

The aim of this text is to show that, for Hobbes, the problem of freedom in the political sphere is of fundamental importance, and that it presents one of the central motifs of his political philosophy. The point of departure is Hobbes’s definition of the concept of freedom as the non-existence of external obstacles. Following this, the author turns to the concept of metaphysical freedom which Hobbes, as a determinist, rejects, and to the problem of the relation of fear and freedom, and thus, above all, to the question of to what extent fear of repression means a restriction of freedom. The following sections of the article bring into play the second significant concept of freedom to be found in Hobbes, freedom as exemption from laws, and the third concept of freedom, the freedom of the subject. In conclusion, attention is also given to the less important and derivative forms of freedom, that is, to freedom of expression and freedom of the state. At the same time, an enquiry is made into the question of whether, given the different definitions, Hobbes’s linking of these various conceptions of freedom is consistent and to what extent Hobbes succeeds in achieving the philosophical goals which he set himself.

Keywords

EN

Thomas Hobbes; freedom

Discipline

• PHILOSOPHY: PHILOSOPHY

• Publisher: Institute of Philosophy, Czech Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Filosofický časopis (Philosophical Journal)
• Year: 2017
• Volume: 65
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 385-401
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Miroslav Vacura

• Filosofický časopis, redakce, Filosofický ústav AV ČR, v.v.i., Jilská 1, 110 00 Praha 1, Czech Republic