La voluntad en Thomas Hobbes

Fran Martín Morer
27 noviembre 2022

Para ponernos un poco en contexto, Thomas Hobbes es un filósofo y político británico del siglo XVI. Probablemente lo conozcas por su obra más aclamada, el Leviatán, y probablemente también sepas que es una obra principalmente política; no por menos se considera a Hobbes uno de los fundadores de la política moderna. Pero lo que tal vez no sabías es que en los primeros capítulos del Leviatán no habla de política, sino de las sensaciones, el pensamiento y la imaginación. Hoy utilizaremos esta primera parte de su obra para hablar de su teoría del conocimiento y lo que me atañe mostrar en esta ocasión, la cuestión de la voluntad según Hobbes.

Hobbes es materialista en su teoría del conocimiento, y por supuesto leyó a Descartes. La esencia de todos los cuerpos es el movimiento: todo lo que se mueve es material y es extenso. Puede que sea tan pequeño que no llegues a percibirlo, pero tiene extensión. Y de la misma forma, tu pensamiento también tiene extensión. Para Hobbes, no hay representación en nuestra mente que no haya sido primeramente engendrada en los órganos sensoriales; dicho en otras palabras, todo el conocimiento procede de los órganos sensibles.

Se trata de una teoría sensualista en el sentido de que lo que nos llega a los sentidos sensibles es en realidad materia muy pequeña, que no percibimos y que impacta en nuestros órganos sensoriales, empezando un proceso perfectamente conectado y que respeta las proporciones geométricas. Cuando este proceso termina en el cerebro, empezamos a ser consciente de algunas ideas. Traducido: pasamos de sensaciones, experiencia sensible, a ideas, cogitatio. En las sensaciones entablamos una relación directa con los objetos exteriores mientras que en las ideas, tenemos una relación indirecta, pues lo que hace la idea es de alguna forma recordar esa sensación que solo se produce en ti. Ahora, no tendrá la misma intensidad que la sensación. El concepto de intensidad es muy importante porque lo que diferencia un pensamiento de una sensación es precisamente la intensidad. Su teoría representacionista se separa de Descartes en el momento en que las ideas no aparecen así como si nada en tu mente, sino que son fruto de un encadenamiento causa – efecto que te hace percibir los colores, el dolor, etc.

Además, para Hobbes este encadenamiento podemos verlo tal y como ocurre en la realidad: si esto es así, estas pensando correctamente; y si estableces relaciones algo arbitrarias que no se dan, pues estarás divagando un poco (que es lo que critica de los teólogos). Siguiendo su razonamiento, pensar consistiría en encadenar imaginaciones.

Una vez sabido esto, entramos en la cuestión del lenguaje. ¿Por qué incide en el lenguaje? Pues para contrastar a Kant: para este autor, lo que tú puedes hacer con el lenguaje, eso son tus categorías de pensamiento. Pero en Hobbes el lenguaje no determina nuestro pensamiento, sino que es una herramienta que usamos. Puedes  pensar sin el lenguaje, solo que te será más difícil. En esta línea, los animales también piensan para Hobbes. Sin embargo, sin decides razonar con el lenguaje, lo que haces en realidad es sumar y restar consecuencias implícitas en esos nombres a los que designa el lenguaje; nombres que usas para identificar complejos de sensaciones y que posteriormente transmites a otras personas con las que compartes tu lenguaje. Así, utilizamos el lenguaje para comunicarnos y también recordar nuestras experiencias sensibles.

Ahora bien, Hobbes es un racionalista de cuidado, y no considera a este proceso hacer ciencia. Para hacer ciencia tienes que ser capaz de poder identificar las relaciones de dependencia entre los nombres y a su vez ser capaz de predecir las consecuencias. Tienes que calcular las consecuencias para poder predecirlas. Lo que le interesa a Hobbes y que posteriormente hará Spinoza en su teoría de las pasiones es intentar establecer el movimiento de los afectos y las pasiones, pues están determinados mecánicamente quieras o no. Aunque si conoces dichos movimientos, serás capaz de mediar un poco con ellos.

En cualquiera de los casos, y aquí es a donde queríamos llegar, se produce un movimiento lineal de las pasiones. Lo que tú decides es en realidad el último eslabón de la cadena de pasiones y afectos que vienen de las sensaciones; sensaciones que se transforman en movimientos internos y que desembocan en tu conducta. Cito textualmente a Hobbes:

“el último apetito o aversión que precede inmediatamente próximo a la acción o a la omisión correspondiente, es lo que llamamos voluntad, acto (y no facultad) de querer”.

Y por tanto, respondiendo a la pregunta que motiva este artículo, ¿si todo está predeterminado en nuestras mentes, somos libres? La respuesta correcta, como todo en filosofía, es depende.

Para Hobbes, que considera que la libertad es la no oposición al movimiento, eres libre cuando puedes hacer lo que tu voluntad ha decidido hacer. Es lo que se conoce como libertad negativa (frente a la libertad positiva definida como la capacidad de auto determinar el qué querer, como en Descartes). Así que para Hobbes, si has leído este artículo, has seguido lo que tu voluntad ha decidido hacer por el encadenamiento de pensamientos que tiene origen en la realidad y que terminan en tu cerebro a modo de curiosidad filosófica y con ello, has sido libre de decidir leerlo.

161 comentarios en “La voluntad en Thomas Hobbes”

  1. Thanks for ones marvelous posting! I really enjoyed
    reading it, you can be a great author.I will be sure to bookmark your
    blog and will come back later in life. I want to encourage
    one to continue your great posts, have a nice morning!

    Here is my web page p1983824

  2. Have you ever thought about adding a little bit more than just your articles?
    I mean, what you say is valuable and all. Nevertheless think about if you added some
    great photos or video clips to give your posts more, «pop»!
    Your content is excellent but with pics and videos, this blog could undeniably be one of the most
    beneficial in its field. Terrific blog!

    Here is my blog post leanbiome.com

  3. Great items from you, man. I’ve take into account your stuff previous to and you’re just too wonderful.
    I actually like what you have got right here, certainly like what you are saying and the best way wherein you say
    it. You are making it entertaining and you continue to
    care for to stay it wise. I can’t wait to learn much more from you.
    That is really a great web site.

    my homepage … p1984995

  4. Woah! I’m really enjoying the template/theme of
    this blog. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s challenging to get that «perfect balance»
    between superb usability and visual appearance.
    I must say that you’ve done a fantastic job with this.

    Also, the blog loads very quick for me on Firefox.
    Outstanding Blog!

    Look into my web blog lung clear pro amazon

  5. I seriously love your website.. Excellent colors & theme.

    Did you make this site yourself? Please reply back as I’m wanting to create my own website and want to find
    out where you got this from or exactly what the theme is called.

    Thanks!

    Also visit my web site – diy java burn

  6. Heya great blog! Does running a blog like this take a lot of work?
    I have absolutely no understanding of computer programming
    however I had been hoping to start my own blog soon. Anyway, if you
    have any recommendations or tips for new blog
    owners please share. I understand this is off topic nevertheless I
    just had to ask. Thanks!

    Check out my blog post :: aqua sculpt brisbane

  7. An impressive share! I have just forwarded this onto a coworker who has been conducting a little homework
    on this. And he actually bought me lunch because I stumbled upon it for him…
    lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thanks for the meal!!
    But yeah, thanks for spending time to discuss this subject here on your web site.

    Here is my site; p1961621

  8. Hi there superb blog! Does running a blog
    similar to this take a massive amount work?

    I have no understanding of computer programming but I had
    been hoping to start my own blog in the near future.
    Anyhow, should you have any recommendations or techniques
    for new blog owners please share. I understand this is off topic however I just needed to ask.
    Thanks!

    Feel free to visit my web blog – prodentim consumer reports

  9. An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto a coworker who has been doing a little homework on this.
    And he actually ordered me breakfast because I found it for him…

    lol. So let me reword this…. Thanks for the meal!!
    But yeah, thanks for spending some time to discuss this matter here on your website.

    Here is my webpage; p1982411

  10. I have been exploring for a little bit for any high quality articles or weblog posts on this sort of house .
    Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon this web site.

    Studying this information So i am glad to convey
    that I have a very good uncanny feeling I found out just what I needed.

    I so much no doubt will make certain to do not fail to remember this web site and provides it a glance regularly.

    Here is my web page :: testoprime pills

  11. Howdy! I know this is kind of off topic but
    I was wondering which blog platform are you using for
    this site? I’m getting sick and tired of WordPress because
    I’ve had issues with hackers and I’m looking at alternatives for another platform.

    I would be fantastic if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.

    Here is my website – mitolyn google reviews

  12. Thanks for the marvelous posting! I genuinely enjoyed reading it, you could be a great author.
    I will ensure that I bookmark your blog and will eventually come back in the foreseeable future.
    I want to encourage one to continue your great
    work, have a nice evening!

    Look at my webpage … try sight care

  13. Hello I am so excited I found your blog, I really found you by accident, while I was
    browsing on Aol for something else, Anyhow I am here now and would just like to say thanks for
    a tremendous post and a all round thrilling blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to go through it all at the
    minute but I have book-marked it and also included your RSS feeds,
    so when I have time I will be back to read more, Please do keep up the excellent b.

    My blog post :: p1972573

  14. Fantastic items from you, man. I have be aware your
    stuff previous to and you’re simply extremely fantastic.
    I really like what you have acquired right here, really
    like what you’re saying and the way in which through which you assert it.
    You’re making it enjoyable and you continue to care for to keep it
    wise. I can’t wait to read far more from you. This is really a wonderful
    site.

    Look into my webpage :: mitolyn

  15. Hello very nice site!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing ..

    I’ll bookmark your blog and take the feeds additionally?
    I’m satisfied to search out a lot of helpful information here in the submit,
    we need work out more techniques on this regard, thank you for sharing.
    . . . . .

    Feel free to surf to my blog post :: is lipozem legit

  16. My developer is trying to convince me to move to .net from PHP.
    I have always disliked the idea because of the expenses. But he’s tryiong none the less.
    I’ve been using Movable-type on numerous websites for about a year and am anxious about
    switching to another platform. I have heard fantastic things about blogengine.net.
    Is there a way I can import all my wordpress content into it?
    Any help would be really appreciated!

    my webpage: prodentim colibrim

  17. Have you ever thought about publishing an e-book or guest authoring on other blogs?
    I have a blog based on the same topics you discuss
    and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my visitors
    would appreciate your work. If you’re even remotely interested,
    feel free to send me an e mail.

    My web page; lipozem turmeric hack

  18. Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew
    of any widgets I could add to my blog that automatically tweet
    my newest twitter updates. I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and
    was hoping maybe you would have some experience with something like this.
    Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly enjoy reading your blog and
    I look forward to your new updates.

    My web site: blue salt trick

  19. Definitely believe that that you said. Your favourite justification appeared to
    be at the internet the simplest factor to take into accout of.
    I say to you, I certainly get annoyed at the same time as
    people think about issues that they plainly do not recognize about.
    You managed to hit the nail upon the highest
    as well as defined out the whole thing with no need side effect , people could
    take a signal. Will probably be again to get more.
    Thank you

    My blog – lottery defeater software reviews

  20. Definitely believe that which you stated. Your favorite justification appeared to be on the net the simplest thing
    to be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get annoyed while people
    consider worries that they just do not know about.

    You managed to hit the nail upon the top and
    also defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people can take a signal.

    Will probably be back to get more. Thanks

    Also visit my site; salt trick penis

  21. This design is incredible! You obviously know how to keep a reader amused.

    Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Wonderful job.
    I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it.
    Too cool!

    Feel free to visit my webpage; mitolyn complaints

  22. Hey there! I realize this is sort of off-topic however I had to ask.
    Does building a well-established website such as yours take
    a massive amount work? I am brand new to blogging but I do write
    in my journal daily. I’d like to start a blog so I can share my
    experience and views online. Please let me know if you have
    any ideas or tips for new aspiring blog owners. Thankyou!

    Feel free to surf to my site; is the lotto champ real

  23. Fantastic goods from you, man. I have bear in mind your stuff previous to and you’re simply extremely wonderful.
    I really like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like what
    you are stating and the way in which you say
    it. You make it entertaining and you continue to take care of to stay it sensible.

    I cant wait to learn far more from you. That is really a great website.

    Stop by my site – natural mounjaro receipe

  24. It is the best time to make a few plans for the future and it’s time to be happy.
    I have learn this put up and if I may just I desire to recommend you some fascinating
    issues or suggestions. Perhaps you could write subsequent articles
    referring to this article. I want to read even more things about
    it!

    Feel free to surf to my web blog; reviews lipozem

  25. We are a gaggle of volunteers and opening a new scheme
    in our community. Your website offered us with useful info to work on. You
    have performed an impressive job and our whole community
    can be thankful to you.

    Review my web-site … mitolyn

  26. Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the
    video to make your point. You obviously know what youre talking
    about, why waste your intelligence on just posting videos to your site when you could be giving us something enlightening
    to read?

    Feel free to visit my web blog; mycosooth

  27. I was wondering if you ever considered changing the layout of
    your blog? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say.
    But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so
    people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having 1 or
    two pictures. Maybe you could space it out better?

    my homepage; dr blane aqua sculpt

  28. Pingback: The Ultimate Secret Of Salt Trick For Men In Bed Recipe – ReckoningZ

Deja un comentario

Tu dirección de correo electrónico no será publicada. Los campos obligatorios están marcados con *