Recognition and glory in Thomas Hobbes

Abstract

The aim of this article is to problematize the relationship between the passion for glory and the dynamics of power in Hobbes. To this end, it examines how Hobbes presents the passion for glory, as a manifestation of the desire for recognition and superiority, constituting itself as a form of power acquisition. This connection highlights how glory transcends the desire for recognition, revealing itself as a fundamental driver for obtaining the appropriate means to establish security as a necessary guarantee for achieving a pleasant life. The hypothesis intended to be evidenced pertains to the idea that the attainment of a pleasant life is linked to the recognition of power exercised through the passion for glory, a necessary condition for achieving security. Thus, the passion for glory is presented not only as an element that amplifies conflict among men but also as a central component in the dynamics of power and recognition, which underpins that condition of security that encompasses the material and spiritual development of individuals.