Thomas Hobbes and Civil Disobedience
A History of Ideas9 Huhti 2015

Thomas Hobbes and Civil Disobedience

Criminologist David Wilson looks at 17th century philosopher Thomas Hobbes and his "social contract" theory. Hobbes argued that the only way to secure peace was for everyone to give up their personal freedom and agree to be ruled by a "sovereign". Otherwise, he said, life was liable to be "nasty, brutish and short", with everyone at war with everyone else.

In fact, none of us has actually signed a contract to give up our freedom, so what if we disagree with what the state wants to do? David looks at the case of the "naked rambler", Stephen Gough, who is currently in Winchester prison because he refuses to wear clothes in public. Gough benefits from the protection of the state, so is he obliged to stick to social norms as his part of the bargain?

David also looks at "bitcoins" - the digital currency that operates outside the control of any government. Is bitcoin world a libertarian utopia, or a reminder of what Hobbes was talking about: that without someone to lay down the law, you end up with violence and rampant criminality?

Presenter: David Wilson Producer: Jolyon Jenkins.

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(60)

Historian Justin Champion on William Whiston's Comet Theory

Historian Justin Champion on William Whiston's Comet Theory

Historian Justin Champion on Early Modern Comet TheoryThose who watched in awe as the space craft Philae bounced its way onto a comet last November should hold a candle for William Whiston. Back in 16...

16 Tammi 201511min

Theologian Giles Fraser on Thomas Aquinas

Theologian Giles Fraser on Thomas Aquinas

If the universe exists what caused it to be? Theologian Giles Fraser examines the brilliant medieval scholar St. Thomas Aquinas' and his argument for God as the first cause of everything. It's part of...

15 Tammi 201512min

Astronomer Carole Mundell on the Big Bang

Astronomer Carole Mundell on the Big Bang

What put the Bang in the Big Bang?On the 7th of November 1919 an announcement was made to the great and good of the Royal Society. Photographs from the observations of a solar eclipse had just arrived...

14 Tammi 201511min

Jessica Frazier on Creation Myths

Jessica Frazier on Creation Myths

How did the world begin? In the Old Testament it all starts with an act of God, but where did God come from?Dr Jessica Frazier, lecturer in Religious Studies at the University of Kent and fellow of th...

13 Tammi 201511min

How Did Everything Begin?

How Did Everything Begin?

A new history of ideas presented by Melvyn Bragg but told in many voices.Each week Melvyn is joined by four guests with different backgrounds to discuss a really big question. This week he's asking 'H...

12 Tammi 201511min

Philosopher Angie Hobbs on the Value of Conscience

Philosopher Angie Hobbs on the Value of Conscience

Philosopher Angie Hobbs examines the concept of conscience or moral intuition and asks whether it stands up to rational scrutiny. In his Novel 'The Brothers Karamazov' the 19th century Russian write...

28 Marras 201412min

Lawyer Harry Potter on Morality and the Law

Lawyer Harry Potter on Morality and the Law

Criminal Barrister Harry Potter asks whether the law should enforce morals, and if so, which morals?Should the law tell us what we can and can't do? Or should it go further and tell us what is right, ...

27 Marras 201412min

Neuro-psychologist Paul Broks on Morality and the Brain

Neuro-psychologist Paul Broks on Morality and the Brain

The eighteenth century writer Jeremy Bentham thought that telling right from wrong as simple: morally right things were the ones that increased the total of human happiness. Wrong things were the ones...

26 Marras 201412min

Suosittua kategoriassa Historia

olipa-kerran-otsikko
gogin-ja-janin-maailmanhistoria
mayday-fi
huijarit
rss-ikiuni
mystista
totuus-vai-salaliitto
konginkangas
tsunami
rss-subjektiivinen-todistaja
sotaa-ja-historiaa-podi
rouva-diktaattori
rss-sattuu-sita-suomessakin
rss-historian-pitka-oppimaara
rss-i-dont-like-mondays-2
rss-peter-peter
historiaa-suomeksi
apinan-vuosi
maailmanpuu