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Question: How are Hobbes and Malcolm X related!? 10 points!?
How do you think Hobbes and Malcolm X can relate to one another!?
of course they have the same perspective about violence, but i'd like a brief explanation as to how you think the two can relate!.Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Hi Canadian,

They are related, and they aren't!. (How's that for precision!?)

They're related in that they share a view of existence as being a brutal state of nature in which life is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short!."

Malcolm's own experience with racism left him with the impression that there really was no law to protect people like him, so, it's every man for himself!. That's why he developed an ideology of Black Self Reliance!. If you're living in a violent state of nature you better get strong, FAST, or you're going to get eaten!. So both men shared a related view of what the state of nature is like, and how men behave inside it!.

But where I think they diverge is in the solution to the problem!. Hobbes' solution was to create the all powerful state (the Leviathan) !. On this point I think Malcolm would have been horrified!. He experienced the racism of the power structure, and I don't think he would have favored any attempt at making that power stronger!.

That's why he favored Black Separatism!. There's no evidence that he would have supported an all powerful state; and Ithink his understanding of how political power can be abused is why he ultimately believed that the only solution was religious -- hence his committment to Islam!.

Hobbes really had no use for religion, and Malcolm believed it was society's only way out!.

Hope this helps!. Cheers!.Www@QuestionHome@Com