Isaac, Honorbeary, Tally, Ferdy, Blanky

19 Laws of Human Nature

A. The basis of "Contracts" (A.K.A. the "Leviathan")

1. Man tries to obtain peace, unless when it is impossible - then man seeks war.

2. Man is willing to sacrifice his will to acquire all things if he shares equal rights with all other men.

3. Man acts according to established covenants (lest he be punished for not acting accordingly, which is unjust). 

*Covenant may be read "contract"

B. How man should interact with contracts

4. Man should make sure others do not regret complying to the contract (that is, man should show gratitude, avoiding self-centeredness).

5. Man should seek to maintain the contract (that is, man should maintain a mutually benificial agreement rather than have none at all).

C. Basic guidelines on the creation of contracts

6. Man should forgive.

7. Punishment should be carried out with the goal of providing future benefit (that is, to correct the person) and not merely to incur loss.

8. Man should avoid showing hatred of another.

9. Man should consider each other as equals.

10. Man should not seek any right that he would deny to others.

D. Mediators

11. Man should not favor one side over another when acting as mediator.

12. Resources that cannot be divided must be shared.

13. Resources that cannot be divided nor be shared must be randomly distributed.

→ 14./ 15. There are two kinds of random distribution: (1) Natural ("Entitlement" in modern terms; finders keepers); and (2) Arbitrary (as in drawing lots).

16. Those who maintain peace should be allowed peace.

17. Those who have quarrels with each other shall seek a judge or mediator.

18. Those who may seek self-interest from a party in a dispute can be the judge or mediator in that dispute.

19. Witnesses and facts (read "evidence") must be brought to the judge when deciding between parties of a dispute.

Notes:

1. Hobbes inverts the use of the word "nature" as received from Aristotle: Nature is used to refer to what man is or desires to behave before establishment of a contract instead of afer.

2. Hobbes does not defend monarchy - he only defends the sovereignty, which may be one person or many persons, as long as they manifest one will.