No Highest Good: The Relay of Desire

The chapter's central question

For Hobbes, being alive means continuing to desire. Once you get one, you regain the ability and means to meet future desires. Happiness is not a final state where all desires stop, but a process of continuously achieving what you want, a state in which desires move successfully from one object to the next.

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Ancient Aristotle and medieval philosophers believed that there was life's ultimate settlement, the 'highest good' where all desires would completely cease and enjoy eternal peace. But Hobbes dismissed this as an illusion.

'As long as you live, there is no such thing as perfect peace of mind or ultimate satisfaction! Because life is movement itself.'

The joy we feel when we achieve a goal (getting accepted to college, getting a job, getting a promotion, buying a house) is only temporary. Before long, a new desire arises for your next goal. Hobbes never saw this as corruption or sin. Constantly crossing stepping stones from one desire to another is the essential proof of life that humans are alive and breathing.

Context and nuance

Hobbes understood humans as objects in constant motion, and explained emotions and desires as the beginning of that movement. His theory of emotions does not stop at individual psychology, but also extends to how competition, distrust, and desire for honor create political conflict and why common power is necessary.

This explanation is not a slogan that justifies endless consumption. The persistence of desire also shows why competition for power is difficult to stop. Each person's rational actions to accumulate more power for future security can make everyone anxious. This is the part where the theory of individual desires moves to the needs of the political system.

Do not oversimplify it this way

If we were to summarize Hobbes in one sentence: ‘Man is inherently evil and selfish,’ we would lose an important part. He also acknowledges compassion, curiosity, and a desire for peace. The problem is that, in conditions where resources are limited and each other's intentions are uncertain, even rational people can be tempted to strike first.

Philosophy in life

Have you ever felt cold at night because of the fear of failure and the anxiety of falling behind?

Build your own Leviathan (safety net): Implement one practical defense (routine, emergency plan, expert advice) against the worst risks.

Primary-source guide

Primary guide: Leviathan, chapters 6, 11, 13, 14, and 17.

Pathos Editorial · Reviewed 2026-09-12