Page:The ethics of Hobbes (IA ethicsofhobbes00hobb).pdf/38
wouldest not have done to thyself.[1] These laws of nature, which are the dictates of reason with reference to peace, are always obligatory upon man in foro interno, but not always obligatory in foro externo. That is, they always "bind to a desire they should take place," but not always "to the putting them in act." This is so because "he that should be modest, and tractable, and perform all he promises, in such time, and place, where no man else should do so, should but make himself a prey to others, and procure his own certain ruin, contrary to the ground of all laws of nature, which tend to nature's preservation. And again, he that having sufficient security, that others shall observe the same laws towards him, observes them not himself, seeketh not peace, but war; and consequently the destruction of his nature by violence."[2] Furthermore, the laws which bind in foro interno may be violated not only by acting contrary to them, but also when the act is in conformity to them but the purpose back of the act is in opposition to them. In such a case as this we have a breach of the law because the obligation is in foro interno.[3] Again, these laws of nature are eternal and unchangeable; "for injustice, ingratitude, arrogance, pride, iniquity, acception of persons, and the rest, can never be made lawful. For it can never be that war shall preserve life, and peace destroy it."[4]
The three laws of nature which have been explained above are absolutely essential if man is to emerge from a state of nature, which is a state of war, into a state of peace, in which security of person and the means of enjoying life are to be attained. It is on these three laws that the commonwealth, which exists for the attainment of these ends, is founded. The genesis and development of the commonwealth Hobbes describes as follows: The reason why men lay down their liberty and assume the restraints of a commonwealth is "the foresight of their own preserva-