Chinese Journal of Sociology ›› 2016, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (6): 78-96.

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Unfinished “Natural Sociability”: Human Nature and Normativity of the Modern Society

LI Meng   

  1. Department of Philosophy, Peking University; Institute of Foreign Philosophy, Peking University
  • Online:2016-11-20 Published:2016-11-20
  • Supported by:

    This article is one of the results of the project "Migrant Workers and Development of Small Towns Research",which was cooperated by the Department of Sociology of Peking University and CPC Committee Office of Sishui County.

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Abstract:

Natural Society intends to investigate the doctrine of human nature and normativity articulated by Thomas Hobbes and other members of the modern natural law school concerning the constitution of modern moral world. The state of Nature, natural rights or natural law, and social contract are three decisive moments of modern moral order. The theory of natural state advanced by Hobbes and Grotius, synthesized the apparent opposite self-love and sociability and thus provided a starting point for modern moral philosophy. The state of nature, as moral space, should not be understood a normative order with the natural or objective measure beyond subjective natural rights. In the modern world, normativity is made simultaneously with the social contract which constitutes the Leviathan.

Key words: the state of Nature, natural sociability, Hobbes, normativity, Human Nature