Page:The ethics of Hobbes (IA ethicsofhobbes00hobb).pdf/50
thinketh it may be best preserved."[1] We have already seen that these "laws of nature," according to Hobbes, are always binding in foro interno. They are not always binding in foro externo, as, for example, when others do not obey them, and we, by yielding obedience to them under such circumstances, would subject ourselves to the prey of others. We have also seen that the laws are immutable and eternal. Hobbes further tells us that "he that is subject to no civil law" sins "in all he does against his conscience, because he has no other rule to follow but his own reason."[2] Again, he says: "Every man by natural passion, calleth that good which pleaseth him for the present, or so far forth as he can foresee; and in like manner, that which displeaseth him, evil. And therefore he that foreseeth the whole way to his preservation, which is the end that every one by nature aimeth at, must also call it good, and the contrary evil. And this is that good and evil, which not every man in passion calleth so, but all men by reason. And therefore the fulfilling of all these laws is good in reason, and the breaking of them evil. And so also the habit, or disposition, or intention to fulfill them good; and the neglect of them evil."[3] Again, he says: "And seeing that the laws of nature concern the conscience, not he only breaketh them that doth any action contrary, but also he whose action is conformable to them, in case he thinketh it contrary. For though the action chance to be right, yet in his judgment he despiseth the law."[4] Thus we see that Hobbes believed in a morality independent of and antecedent to the will of the sovereign, in an eternal and immutable morality which is binding upon the conscience of man. A morality founded upon reason. To ignore this aspect of Hobbes's teaching, in criticising his ethical philosophy, is manifestly unjust. But we have also seen that he teaches an institutional