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Life, Liberty and Security: Using the Science and Politics of Thomas Hobbes in Public Administration

Paul, Peter M.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1164651731

Abstract Details

2006, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, Urban Studies and Public Affairs.
Can the political philosophy of Thomas Hobbes be applied to public administration theory development? Insecurity and unease follow the events of 9/11, and scholars in the field respond by searching for an acceptable relationship between security and liberty. Locked into a historical horizon that barely dips into the landscape of thought before the Founders, before the Declaration, before the Constitution, scholars rarely make their way back to the one political philosopher who has produced the most complete system of civil society born of war. Could responses benefit from such a coherent system? Renascent issues are of security and liberty, of civil society born out of abhorrence of war, and of the rights of individuals who chose to abandon the war of all against all. The comforts of commodious living gain new salience when contrasted against increased integration of the individual into the artificial muscles and sinews of what Hobbes called the Artificial Man, the monster, the Leviathan that civil society has become. What are the rights of survival of a political system who prime purpose is the keeping of the peace in a world where wars, like thunderstorms, are always impending as soon as the last has gone? What are the rights and powers of a sovereign whose sword would keep them all in awe? The present study surveys a recent spate of response by a special issue of the field’s leading journal. Using the history of ideas approach, the study asks whether reference to Hobbes’s understanding of civil science in civil society would not produce additional insights into the nature of post-9/11 security and the freedom of ourselves, both from premature and violent death, and the awesome power of the Leviathan.
Ralph Hummel (Advisor)
Hobbes; Leviathan; security; liberty; political philosophy; science; politics; civil society; public administration; political theory

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Paul, P. M. (2006). Life, Liberty and Security: Using the Science and Politics of Thomas Hobbes in Public Administration [Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1164651731

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Paul, Peter. Life, Liberty and Security: Using the Science and Politics of Thomas Hobbes in Public Administration. 2006. University of Akron, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1164651731.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Paul, Peter. "Life, Liberty and Security: Using the Science and Politics of Thomas Hobbes in Public Administration." Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron, 2006. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1164651731

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

akron1164651731
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© 2006, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.