Hobbes

Leviathan

big idea

concerned with human nature and the necessity of political order. he believes without a strong authority, human life is chaotic and dangerous

state of nature

Hobbes imagines humans without governments or laws. life is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short”. argues that humans are naturally self-interested, competitive, and fearful.

social contract

to escape the chaos, people agree to give up some freedom in exchange for security. this agreement forms the social contract, where individuals submit to sovereign authority. the sovereign ensures peace and enforces laws, protecting everyone from the state of nature

the leviathan

Hobbes metaphor for a powerful, individible authority. its power must be absolute, divided authority risks a return to chaos. citizens obey not because the ruler is morally right, but because it prevents conflict

human nature and reason

humans are rational in the sense that they recognize the need for security. morality and laws come from the sovereign, not from innate human goodness. right and wrong are defined by what the ruler allows, not by universal moral principles

key takeaways

without government, humans are in constant conflict. absolute authority is necessary to maintain order and peace. political obedience is pragmatic: it is about survival, not virtue.