Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

Thomas Hobbes: Key Philosophies

1. Beliefs on Human Nature and Government

• Hobbes asserted that individuals are inherently incapable of self-governance.

• He posited that a monarch wielding absolute power is the most effective form of government to ensure the protection of life and maintain order.

2. Advocacy for Rule of Law

• Hobbes was a proponent of the rule of law, suggesting that all members of society, including rulers, should be subject to established laws.

3. The Social Contract

• Central to Hobbes's philosophy is the concept of a social contract.

• According to this contract, individuals willingly surrender certain liberties and rights to the government (preferably an absolute monarch).

• In return for this sacrifice (which includes respecting governmental authority), the government provides security and protection to its citizens.