People are motivated by a desire for power and selfpreservation from "summary" of Hobbes: Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes
In the natural state of mankind, where every individual is in constant fear of others, people are driven by an insatiable desire for power and self-preservation. This primal instinct compels individuals to seek dominance over others in order to ensure their own safety and security. According to Hobbes, this desire for power is inherent in human nature, arising from the fundamental need to protect oneself from harm. In the absence of a governing authority to maintain order and enforce laws, individuals are compelled to assert their power over others in order to secure their own survival. This perpetual state of war of all against all, as Hobbes describes it, creates a competitive environment where individuals are constantly vying for power and control. The pursuit of power is not merely driven by greed or ambition, but rather by a fundamental need for self-preservation. In a world where trust is scarce and betrayal is common, individuals must rely on their own strength and cunning to ensure their own survival. This relentless quest for power becomes a matter of life and death, as those who are unable to assert their dominance are left vulnerable to the whims of others.- Hobbes argues that the desire for power and self-preservation is a universal trait that governs human behavior in the absence of a strong central authority. In such a state of nature, individuals are driven by a primal instinct to secure their own survival at all costs, leading to a constant struggle for power and control. This fundamental aspect of human nature shapes the dynamics of society, driving individuals to seek power in order to protect themselves from the dangers of the world around them.
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