Hobbes's Leviathan?

Question

what does Hobbes mean in chapter 13, 1st paragraph
"NATURE hath made men so equal in the faculties of body and mind as that, though there be found one man sometimes manifestly stronger in body or of quicker mind than another, yet when all is reckoned together the difference between man and man is not so considerable as that one man can thereupon claim to himself any benefit to which another may not pretend as well as he. For as to the strength of body, the weakest has strength enough to kill the strongest, either by secret machination or by confederacy with others that are in the same danger with himself."

This is what I think, which i am HIGHLY doubtful.
I think what Hobbes is saying is that nature have made men equal though some may be stronger physically while others are stronger mentally.

I know that's only the 1st half, i'm stick on the 2nd half. help? =)

i'm not so sure i get what you mean by, "I think he will then lead into that better men deserve the right to rule so they can govern over the lesser men." but i just started reading Hobbes and suppose to analyze that one paragraph but i am already confused. =\

Answer 1

Well, I know that Hobbes is a big fan of monarchies. You should read up some information of Hobbes and try to apply it to it. I think he is saying that some men are greater than others. He also is saying that the weak men can just as easily kill the better man than the other way around. I think he will then lead into that better men deserve the right to rule so they can govern over the lesser men. But thats just my view. Please add some details and make this and active discussion. But Hobbes is all about absolutism and a monarchy. It would not make sense for him to argue about no one ruling over another. Please add the second half so we can continue this argument.

Answer 2

I don't think so. One man may be both stronger and smarter than another. Nevertheless, no man is strong enough by himself to withstand the combined opposition of others. Every man has a vulnerability. Note the example he used. It contained the phrase:

"[T]he weakest has strength enough to kill the strongest, either by secret machination OR BY CONFEDERACY WITH OTHERS that are in the same danger with himself."

CAPITAL LETTERS my emphasis.