The problem about the laws in Hobbes

Abstract

After the question “how could Hobbes write the natural law, if it is nowrittenlaw?” I’ll try to approach the relationship between natural and civil lawafter the instauration of the commonwealth. In this sense, I’ll pay attention tothe hobbesian distinction among “written law” and “written register” of law anda few consequences after this distinction. For example, if, how Hobbes says, thecorrect interpretation of natural law doesn’t depend on philosophers, but only onthe authority of commonwealth, would include itself the legitimation of theformulation of the natural laws? The paradox of the first question seems to beimportant, however, negligenced from hobbesian critical literature. Its intent is toinvestigate this negligence into better understanding his philosophical postulate,that includes important points like the “silence of law”, the right of self-defense,foro interno and foro externo, State and government.