20-minute plan
- Read a condensed, credible summary of Leviathan Chapter 6 to identify 2 core arguments
- Create a 2-column chart pairing each argument with a real-world parallel
- Draft 1 discussion question that connects the chapter to current events
Keyword Guide · chapter-summary
Leviathan Chapter 6: Summary & Study Guide
Thomas Hobbes’s Leviathan Chapter 6 lays out foundational ideas about human behavior and the origins of moral judgment. This guide breaks down the chapter’s core claims and gives you actionable steps to use its ideas for class, quizzes, and essays. Start by mapping the chapter’s key arguments to the rest of Hobbes’s larger thesis about social contract theory.
Leviathan Chapter 6 defines human motivation as rooted in basic desires and aversions, framing all voluntary action as a response to these drives. It ties these impulses to the formation of moral concepts, explaining how societal norms emerge from shared human experiences. List 3 core desires Hobbes identifies to anchor your notes for class discussion.
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Answer Block
Leviathan Chapter 6 focuses on the psychological and moral underpinnings of Hobbes’s social contract theory. It links human actions to innate desires and aversions, arguing that these drives shape how we define good and evil. The chapter bridges individual behavior to the need for a centralized authority to maintain order.
Next step: Write a 1-sentence restatement of Hobbes’s core claim about moral judgment from this chapter, then pair it with a real-world example of that judgment in action.
Key Takeaways
- Hobbes frames all voluntary human action as a response to inherent desires or aversions
- Moral concepts like good and evil are defined by individual and collective human preferences
- The chapter’s arguments set up the need for a sovereign power to regulate conflicting impulses
- Hobbes rejects inherent moral truths, instead tying morality to observable human behavior
20-Minute Plan and 60-Minute Plan
60-minute plan
- Review your course notes on Hobbes’s social contract theory to set context for the chapter
- Break down the chapter into 3 sections: human motivation, moral formation, and political implications
- Write a 3-sentence thesis that links the chapter’s claims to the book’s overall argument
- Practice explaining that thesis out loud in 60 seconds or less for quiz prep
3-Step Study Plan
Action: Review your syllabus notes on 17th-century political turmoil in England
Output: A 3-bullet list linking historical context to Hobbes’s Chapter 6 arguments
Action: Highlight or flag 2 key claims from the chapter that connect to social order
Output: A visual mind map showing how each claim leads to Hobbes’s sovereign authority argument
Action: Write a 5-sentence paragraph applying one Chapter 6 claim to a modern political debate
Output: A polished paragraph ready for class discussion or essay integration
Discussion Kit
- What is one way Hobbes’s view of human motivation in Chapter 6 challenges common ideas about morality?
- How does Chapter 6’s focus on individual desires set up the need for a sovereign power later in Leviathan?
- Name a real-world event that aligns with Hobbes’s description of how groups define good and evil
- Do you agree with Hobbes’s claim that all voluntary action stems from desire or aversion? Why or why not?
- How might a critic of Hobbes push back against the moral framework laid out in Chapter 6?
- What is one connection between Chapter 6 and a prior reading in your course?
- How would Hobbes explain a time you made a decision based on desire or aversion?
- What role does fear play in the moral judgments described in Chapter 6?
Essay Kit
Thesis Templates
- In Leviathan Chapter 6, Hobbes’s argument that moral concepts emerge from human desires and aversions lays the necessary groundwork for his later defense of absolute sovereign authority by showing why unregulated individual behavior threatens collective survival.
- Leviathan Chapter 6 challenges traditional views of inherent morality by framing good and evil as subjective constructs rooted in human preference, a claim that remains relevant to modern debates about political legitimacy and personal autonomy.
Outline Skeletons
- 1. Intro: Hook with modern moral debate, thesis linking Chapter 6 to sovereign authority; 2. Body 1: Explain Hobbes’s view of human motivation; 3. Body 2: Connect motivation to moral judgment formation; 4. Body 3: Link moral framework to need for sovereign power; 5. Conclusion: Restate thesis and apply to modern politics
- 1. Intro: Hook with Hobbes’s historical context, thesis about subjective morality; 2. Body 1: Break down Chapter 6’s core claims about desire and aversion; 3. Body 2: Compare Hobbes’s view to a traditional moral theory; 4. Body 3: Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of Hobbes’s framework; 5. Conclusion: Restate thesis and discuss contemporary relevance
Sentence Starters
- Hobbes’s focus on desire as the driver of action in Chapter 6 suggests that
- By framing moral concepts as human-constructed in Leviathan Chapter 6, Hobbes undermines the idea that
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Exam Kit
Checklist
- Can you restate Hobbes’s core claim about human motivation from Chapter 6 in 1 sentence?
- Do you have 2 examples linking Chapter 6 to the book’s overall social contract argument?
- Can you explain how Chapter 6 rejects inherent moral truths?
- Have you identified 1 common counterargument to Hobbes’s Chapter 6 claims?
- Do you have a thesis template tied to Chapter 6 for essay prompts?
- Can you map Chapter 6’s structure to 3 key sections: motivation, morality, politics?
- Have you practiced explaining Chapter 6’s relevance to modern events?
- Do you have notes on how Chapter 6 sets up later chapters of Leviathan?
- Can you define 3 key terms Hobbes uses in Chapter 6 in your own words?
- Have you reviewed your class discussion notes on Chapter 6’s key arguments?
Common Mistakes
- Confusing Hobbes’s descriptive claims about human behavior with prescriptive moral advice
- Failing to connect Chapter 6’s psychological arguments to the book’s larger political thesis
- Assuming Hobbes believes humans are inherently evil, rather than driven by neutral desires and aversions
- Ignoring the historical context that shaped Hobbes’s views in Chapter 6
- Paraphrasing without clearly linking ideas back to Hobbes’s core arguments in the chapter
Self-Test
- How does Hobbes define good and evil in Leviathan Chapter 6?
- What role does Chapter 6 play in the overall structure of Leviathan’s argument?
- Name one way Hobbes’s view of human motivation in Chapter 6 differs from a traditional religious perspective on morality?
How-To Block
Action: Read through a credible summary of Leviathan Chapter 6 and circle 2-3 recurring claims about human behavior or morality
Output: A bulleted list of core claims, each restated in your own words
Action: Review your notes on Leviathan’s overall thesis, then draw lines connecting each Chapter 6 claim to that thesis
Output: A visual or written chart showing the logical flow from Chapter 6 to Hobbes’s sovereign authority argument
Action: Write 1 practice essay thesis and 2 discussion questions using your mapped claims
Output: A set of tailored study materials ready for quizzes, discussions, or essays
Rubric Block
Chapter Content Mastery
Teacher looks for: Accurate, clear understanding of Hobbes’s core claims in Leviathan Chapter 6, with no misrepresentation of his arguments
How to meet it: Restate each claim in your own words, then cross-check with 2 credible study resources to ensure accuracy before writing or speaking
Connection to Larger Thesis
Teacher looks for: Ability to link Chapter 6’s arguments to the overall social contract theory presented in Leviathan
How to meet it: Draft a 1-sentence bridge between each Chapter 6 claim and Hobbes’s argument about sovereign authority, then integrate these bridges into your work
Critical Engagement
Teacher looks for: Evidence of critical thinking, either through evaluating Hobbes’s claims or applying them to real-world contexts
How to meet it: Choose one Chapter 6 claim, then write a 3-sentence evaluation of its strengths and weaknesses, pairing it with a modern example to support your point
Chapter Core Focus
Leviathan Chapter 6 centers on the psychological foundations of human behavior and moral judgment. Hobbes ties all voluntary actions to innate desires and aversions, using this framework to explain how societies define good and evil. Write a 2-sentence summary of this focus to add to your class notes.
Link to Later Chapters
The arguments in Chapter 6 set up the book’s later defense of a strong sovereign power. Hobbes’s description of unregulated human desire creates a logical need for an authority to prevent chaos. Make a note of 1 specific way this chapter’s ideas lead to the social contract in later sections of Leviathan.
Class Discussion Prep
Use this section to prepare for in-class conversations about moral philosophy. Pick one of the discussion questions from this guide, then draft a 3-sentence answer that includes a personal or real-world example. Use this before class to feel confident contributing to the conversation.
Essay Integration Tips
When writing essays about Leviathan, use Chapter 6 as evidence for Hobbes’s core assumptions about human nature. Pair a claim from this chapter with a later argument about sovereign authority to create a logical, connected analysis. Draft one body paragraph using this structure to practice for upcoming essay assignments.
Exam Study Strategy
For exams focusing on Leviathan, create flashcards for Chapter 6’s key terms and core claims. On the back of each card, write a 1-sentence link to the book’s overall thesis. Test yourself with these cards 24 hours before your exam to reinforce your understanding.
Common Misconceptions to Avoid
Many students misinterpret Hobbes as claiming humans are inherently evil, but Chapter 6 frames desires and aversions as neutral, natural drives. Another mistake is ignoring the chapter’s link to the book’s political arguments, focusing only on its psychological claims. Write down these two misconceptions in your notes to avoid them in your work.
What is the main idea of Leviathan Chapter 6?
The main idea of Leviathan Chapter 6 is that all voluntary human action stems from innate desires and aversions, and that moral concepts like good and evil are defined by these drives rather than inherent truths.
How does Leviathan Chapter 6 relate to social contract theory?
Leviathan Chapter 6 lays the psychological groundwork for social contract theory by explaining that unregulated individual desires would lead to chaos, creating the need for a sovereign authority to maintain order.
What does Hobbes say about morality in Chapter 6?
In Chapter 6, Hobbes argues that morality is not an inherent truth but a human construct defined by what individuals and groups desire or avoid.
How can I use Leviathan Chapter 6 for an essay?
Use Leviathan Chapter 6 as evidence for Hobbes’s core assumptions about human nature, then link those assumptions to his larger arguments about sovereign authority or social order to create a structured, evidence-based essay.
Editorial note: This page is independently written for educational support. Verify specifics with assigned class materials and the original text.
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