THE TWO DIMENSIONS OF THE HOBBESIAN STATE OF NATURE

Abstract

This article investigates the dual dimension of the state of nature in Thomas Hobbes, aiming to challenge the orthodox reading that understands it as a purely theoretical and experimental construct. Based on a conceptual and interpretative analysis of the works Leviathan, De Cive, and A Dialogue Between a Philosopher and a Student of the Common Laws of England, it argues that Hobbes’s state of nature is not limited to a logical abstraction intended to justify sovereign power, but also incorporates a historical-anthropological analysis of the origins of political organization. The presence of family units in this state, often overlooked, reveals that Hobbes acknowledges concrete forms of social organization prior to the civil pact. Methodologically, the study conducts a textual and comparative analysis, examining key passages and the critical problematization of the theme in authors such as Schochet, Watkins, and Strauss. The text is organized into three sections: a critique of the orthodox interpretation, an analysis of families as historical elements, and a discussion of how this reading relates to Hobbes’s conception of natural equality. It concludes that Hobbes’s state of nature integrates theoretical and historical dimensions, offering a more complex perspective on the genesis of civil society.