The social state is at once so natural, so necessary, and so habitual to man, that, except in some unusual circumstances or by an effort of voluntary abstraction, he never conceives himself otherwise than as a member of a body; and this association is riveted more and more, as mankind are further removed from the state of savage independence. (J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism, ch. III, p. 32) Would Thomas Hobbes agree with these claims made by John Stuart Mill? Is the social state natural and necessary, according to Hobbes? And does our conception of ourselves as being members of a group become habitual in us – ″riveted more and more″ – in Hobbes′ way of seeing things? Or can these rivets, such as they are, be broken? Use short quotations from Hobbes′ text to support your explanation of how he thinks of human societies. Finally, give your opinion about the extent to which Mill′s utilitarian theory depends on this claim about the naturalness of being conscious of our association with others. Does utilitarianism fall apart if this consciousness is not present in our minds?