Applying the political philosophy of Thomas Hobbes to the gun owner/survivalist in America

Over at the blog MikeB302000, an anonymous comment by a reader wrote: Remember: "God made man, but Samuel Colt made them equal".

As a political scientist, I could not help but to think of the political philosophy of Thomas Hobbes, and his thoughts on why men are equal. Although I know the anonymous comment was meant to be whimsical, the comment by this second amendment supporter validates the political philosophy of Thomas Hobbes, and offers an insight into the mind of the gun owner/survivalist in America.

As Hobbes writes in chapter one in his book, On the Citizen, men are by equal by nature, and our actual inequality has been introduced by civil law. Taking away that natural right, it is understandable why most gun owners in America are fearful of the government and of their fellow man. In Hobbes view, it is totally understandable that gun owners in American feel that way, and are only merely protecting their lives as much as they can, through natural law.

As Hobbes writes in the chapter, Man without Civil Society, man does not belong to a society for the love of his fellow man or to seek friendship, but for honor and advantage from them. Depending on the circumstances upon which they met, such as for business where the motive is profit, or for political reasons where the motive is political relationships, the reason is never friendship. Hobbes even explores the reasons why men meet for entertainment and fun and explains that men only do so to come away with a better idea of himself in comparison with someone else’s embarrassment or weakness. Even if this is sometimes harmless and inoffensive, it is still evident that what they primarily enjoy is their own glory and not society.

Applying the political philosophy of Thomas Hobbes to the lone gun man in the woods with a fall out shelter full of dry goods and supplies, seems to offer an insight into the mind of gun owner/survivalist in America. While some people may look down upon a gun owner/survivalist in America or make fun of them, according to the political philosophy of Thomas Hobbes, there is nothing unusual about their behavior or thinking. They are only merely practicing their right of self-preservation.

As most Americans are discovering a little too late, more people should dislike the selfish and greedy politicians and Wall Street bankers seeking honor and advantage only for themselves.