Can sovereign power be divided?

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 believed that the supreme power may not be divided. He considered this a seditious opinion and argued that it cannot consist with the very being of government. [1]
• BELIEF (undated): Thomas Hobbes believed that sovereign power should not be divided, as such division is dangerous and creates conflict between temporal and spiritual authority. He argues that men cannot serve two masters and that power is just as divided and dangerous when shared with an indirect power as with a direct one. "Power is as really divided, and as dangerously to all purposes, by sharing with another indirect power, as with a direct one." [2]
• BELIEF (undated): Thomas Hobbes believed that sovereign power cannot be divided, as it would lead to the dissolution of the commonwealth. He argued that divided powers mutually destroy each other. (key quote above) [3]
• BELIEF (undated): Thomas Hobbes believed that sovereign power cannot be divided, because it would result in two commonwealths with the same subjects and two masters, which is impossible and would lead to civil war and dissolution. His reasoning is that if there are two sovereign powers, such as civil and ghostly, each claiming to declare laws, then there is no true sovereignty, and the commonwealth cannot stand. (key quote above) [4]
• BELIEF (undated): Thomas Hobbes believed that sovereignty is indivisible. He argues that any attempt to divide sovereign power either fails to remove subjection or reintroduces war, and that the appearance of a mixed government is a confusion in understanding rather than a true mixture of sovereign power. "But the truth is, as hath been already showed ... the sovereignty is indivisible." [5]
• BELIEF (undated): Thomas Hobbes believed that sovereign power cannot be divided. He argues that if sovereignty were divided, it would not be a true commonwealth but rather a corruption of it. [6]
• BELIEF (undated): Thomas Hobbes believed that sovereign power cannot be divided in the case of an elective monarchy. If sovereignty is truly transferred to a king for life, then the power of the people is dissolved, and after the king's death, there is no obligation to follow new elections. Alternatively, if the people's power remains, the king is merely a minister, not sovereign. "In this case, the power of the people is dissolved, or not; if dissolved, then after the death of him that is chosen, there is no man bound to stand to the decrees of them that shall, as private men, run together to make a new election" [7]
• BELIEF (undated): Thomas Hobbes believed that the right of sovereignty cannot be divided, as he argued that he or they who have the right of sovereignty cannot give away any part thereof and retain the rest. He used the example of the Roman people granting the senate the power to make laws while reserving sovereignty, concluding that such a grant is ineffective and the power of making laws remains with the people. "But the truth is, that the right of sovereignty is such, as he or they that have it, cannot, though they would, give away any part thereof, and retain the rest." [8]
• BELIEF (undated): Thomas Hobbes believed that sovereign power cannot be divided. He argued that because the sovereign power is indivisible, it cannot be supposed to be divided but must descend entirely upon one successor, presumed to be the eldest. "Because the sovereign power is indivisible, it cannot be supposed, that he intended the same should be divided, but that it should descend entirely upon one of them" [9]
• BELIEF (undated): Thomas Hobbes believed that the division of power into spiritual and temporal was dangerous and that the Pope needed to secure schools for philosophy to manage this danger. He argued that the Emperor had the greater share of power because he controlled the swords and the men. "the freedom of philosophy was to the power spiritual very dangerous. And for that cause it behoved the Pope to get schools set up not only for divinity, but also for other sciences, especially for natural philosophy." [10]

What cuts against it

• BELIEF (undated): Thomas Hobbes believed that the Pope's power of absolving subjects of their duties and oaths to their sovereigns is as absolute a sovereignty as possible, leading to the existence of two kingdoms in one nation, which he considered problematic. "This power of absolving subjects of their obedience, as also that other of being judge of manners and doctrine, is as absolute a sovereignty as is possible to be; and consequently there must be two kingdoms in one and the same nation, and no man be able to know which of his masters he must obey." [11]

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

1. Thomas Hobbes argued that sovereign power is indivisible.

2. He stated that dividing sovereignty would lead to the dissolution of the commonwealth.

3. He explained that divided powers mutually destroy each other.

4. He concluded that having two sovereign powers in one nation would result in civil war and confusion.

5. This reasoning is based on his belief that sovereignty must be concentrated to maintain order and peace.

3. HIS TAKE

Record coverage: DIRECT

Extrapolation: Thomas Hobbes believed sovereign power cannot be divided. He argued that division of sovereignty would lead to conflict and the breakdown of government.

Competing readings: None. The record directly states his position.

Confidence: High. The evidence is direct and consistent across multiple passages.