A quite self-interested picture of human nature lurks behind Hobbes' view.Hobbes stops just short of endorsing psychological egoism."the voluntary actions, and inclinations of all men, tend, not only to the procuring, but also to the assuring of a contented life""I put for a general inclination of all mankind, a perpetual and restless desire of power after power, that ceaseth only in death."
Psychological Egoism = the view that people are always motivated by self-interest (and cannot be any other way).A Example of the View
The Ring of GygesIs Psychological Egoism correct?In a famous passage from Plato's masterpiece The Republic, the character Glaucon defends psychological egoism. (Note, however, that Glaucon doesn't actually accept the view. He is merely defending it on behalf of another character who has already stomped off after being annoyed by Socrates.)The claim: we'd all act like Gyges if, like him, we could get away with it.
"those who practise justice do so involuntarily and because they have not the power to be unjust" (47)Given Gyges' power, "the actions of the just would be as the action of the unjust" (48)
In other words, we only act justly because, due to our weakness, we think we'll be better off than if we act unjustly. Even when being just we're motivated by self-interest.