THE DEBATE ON THE EXISTENCE OF A MORAL FOUNDATION IN THE POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY OF THOMAS HOBBES

Leo Strauss and Yara Frateschi

Abstract

This article intends to show some of the arguments presented in the debate over the existence or not of a moral basis in Thomas Hobbe's political philosophy. Two books will be analyzed: "The political philosophy of Hobbes: its basis and its genesis", from Leo Strauss, specially chapter II, "The moral basis"; and "A física da política: Hobbes contra Aristóteles", from Yara Frateschi. Strauss writes in favour of the existence of such moral basis, Frateschi presents a negative answer, criticizing Strauss's position and putting back Hobbes's political philosphy over an essencially mechaniscist basis and, therefore, morally innocent.