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Hobbes's Paradoxical Toleration: Inter regentes tolerantia, tolerans intolerantia inter plebem

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2016

Nicholas Higgins
Nicholas Higgins*
Affiliation:
Regent University
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Nicholas Higgins, Regent University, 1000 Regent University Drive, RH 460, Virginia Beach, VA 23464. E-mail: nhiggins@regent.edu.
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Abstract

The source of Hobbes's liberal view of toleration is a recognized paradox within his absolutist political sovereign. This article argues that Hobbes's view of toleration is consistent with his overall political theory based upon his broader religious teaching, which leads to an epistemological skepticism on the veracity of religion, and as such among rulers toleration is not only allowed, but necessary. Further, this article argues that the inability of the sovereign to punish the private conscience of the citizen derives from natural right and the inherent limitation of law. Finally, this article examines Hobbes's use of religious argumentation to support the inability of a believer to challenge or deviate from the religious commands of the sovereign.

Type
Articles
Information
Politics and Religion , Volume 9 , Issue 1 , March 2016 , pp. 139 - 161
Copyright
Copyright © Religion and Politics Section of the American Political Science Association 2016 

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