What causes a commonwealth to dissolve?

Translation: quotations from Thomas Hobbes are quoted in the 1651 English version of De Cive (Philosophical Rudiments), attributed to Hobbes himself, not his original words.

1. WHAT HE SAID (the record)

Record ledger

• BELIEF (undated; quoted in the 1651 English version of De Cive (Philosophical Rudiments), attributed to Hobbes himself): Thomas Hobbes argues that the laws of nature are not sufficient to preserve peace because individuals, driven by hope and fear, may choose to violate them if they perceive greater benefit or less harm in doing so. This implies that without a structured authority, the commonwealth cannot endure, as people retain a 'right of war' and a 'primitive right of self-defence'. "The hope therefore which each man hath of his security and self-preservation, consists in this, that by force or craft he may disappoint his neighbour, either openly or by stratagem." [1]
• BELIEF (undated; quoted in the 1651 English version of De Cive (Philosophical Rudiments), attributed to Hobbes himself): Thomas Hobbes believed that the judgment of good and evil belonging to private persons is a seditious opinion that prepares toward the dissolution of a commonwealth. This is stated as the first cause that disposes people to sedition. [2]
• BELIEF (undated; quoted in the 1651 English version of De Cive (Philosophical Rudiments), attributed to Hobbes himself): Thomas Hobbes believed that the opinion that the supreme power may be divided is a seditious opinion that cannot consist with the very being of government. He argues that such an opinion would lead to the destruction of the essence of government. [3]
• BELIEF (undated): Thomas Hobbes believes that a commonwealth dissolves when a fundamental law is taken away, because such a law is essential to the existence of the commonwealth. He argues that a fundamental law is one that binds subjects to uphold the sovereign's power, and without it, the commonwealth cannot stand. (key quote above) [4]
• BELIEF (undated): Thomas Hobbes believed that a commonwealth dissolves due to internal diseases and disorders, not external violence, and that this is caused by the failure of men to create and maintain proper laws and order. He argues that the fault lies in the makers and orderers of the commonwealth, who lack the art of making fit laws and the humility and patience to reform their governance. "when they come to be dissolved, not by external violence, but intestine disorder, the fault is not in men, as they are the matter; but as they are the makers, and orderers of them." [5]
• BELIEF (undated): Thomas Hobbes believed that unnecessary wars, especially those driven by ambition or vain-glory, can lead to the ruin of a commonwealth. This belief is grounded in his argument that avoiding such wars is a necessary duty of the sovereign under the law of nature and the principle of salus populi. "For such commonwealths, or such monarchs, as affect war for itself, that is to say, out of ambition, or of vain-glory, or that make account to revenge every little injury, or disgrace done by their neighbours, if they ruin not themselves, their fortune must be better than they have reason to expect." [6]
• BELIEF (undated): Thomas Hobbes argues that absolute sovereignty resides in a commonwealth when no other person or assembly has the right to punish or dissolve it. This implies that if such a right exists, the commonwealth dissolves. "For he that cannot of right be punished, cannot of right be resisted; and he that cannot of right be resisted, hath coercive power over all the rest, and thereby can frame and govern their actions at his pleasure, which is absolute sovereignty." [7]
• BELIEF (undated): Thomas Hobbes believed that a commonwealth dissolves due to sedition, which is caused by three things: discontent, pretence of right, and hope of success. He explains that these factors lead to internal destruction, similar to death from sickness and distemper, rather than from foreign invasions. (key quote above) [8]
• BELIEF (undated): Thomas Hobbes believed that the greatest inconvenience to a commonwealth is its aptitude to dissolve into civil war, which is caused by distraction and factional conflict in assemblies. He argues that monarchies are less subject to this dissolution because the union of the commonwealth is one man, whereas in assemblies, differing opinions and counsel lead to conflict and war. "The greatest inconvenience that can happen to a commonwealth, is the aptitude to dissolve into civil war; and to this are monarchies much less subject, than any other governments." [9]
• BELIEF (undated): Thomas Hobbes believed that when a king is deprived of his power to command soldiers, sovereignty is transferred to whoever holds that power. He argues that the Parliament's demand for the power to press and order soldiers amounted to taking sovereignty from the King. "which power whosoever has, has also, without doubt, the whole sovereignty." [10]

What cuts against it

• The contrary-evidence entries are already in the record ledger above: [1], [6], [10].

2. HOW IT APPLIES (reasoning; inference is marked)

1. Thomas Hobbes believed that a commonwealth dissolves when a fundamental law is taken away, as such a law is essential to its existence. (key quote above) [4]

2. He argued that sedition, caused by discontent, pretence of right, and hope of success, leads to internal dissolution. (key quote above) [8]

3. He identified the judgment of good and evil as belonging to private persons as a seditious opinion that prepares toward the dissolution of a commonwealth. [2]

4. He believed that the opinion that the supreme power may be divided is a seditious opinion that cannot consist with the very being of government. [3]

5. He argued that the failure of men to create and maintain proper laws and order leads to internal diseases and disorders, causing the commonwealth to dissolve. "when they come to be dissolved, not by external violence, but intestine disorder, the fault is not in men, as they are the matter; but as they are the makers, and orderers of them." [5]

3. HIS TAKE

Record coverage: DIRECT

Extrapolation: Thomas Hobbes believed that a commonwealth dissolves due to internal causes such as sedition, the removal of fundamental laws, and the failure to maintain order. He emphasized the importance of absolute sovereignty and the dangers of divided power or private judgment.

Competing readings: None directly contradict his stated beliefs in the passages.

Confidence: High, as the record directly addresses the question and provides multiple supporting passages.