Thomas Hobbes

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Thomas Hobbes by John Michael Wright

Hobbes de cive

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Thomas Hobbes. Line engraving by W. Faithorne, 1668. Wellcome V0002798

Tomb of Thomas Hobbes - geograph.org.uk - 1592556

Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes

Thomas Hobbes (5 April 1588 – 4 December 1679) was an English philosopher, considered to be one of the founders of modern political philosophy. Hobbes is best known for his 1651 book Leviathan, which expounded an influential formulation of social contract theory. His work has also had a profound impact on ethics, jurisprudence, and historical materialism.

Early Life

Thomas Hobbes was born in Westport, adjoining Malmesbury, England, in 1588. The son of a local vicar, his father left the family in 1604, forcing Hobbes to be raised by his wealthy uncle. He attended Magdalen Hall, Oxford, now known as Hertford College, Oxford, where he studied classics. After completing his degree in 1608, Hobbes became a tutor to the Cavendish family, which provided him the opportunity to travel across Europe and meet with leading scholars of the time.

Philosophical Views

Hobbes's philosophy is predominantly characterized by his views on human nature and the necessity of a strong central authority to avoid the chaos and violence he believed would occur in its absence. He famously described life in a state of nature as "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." According to Hobbes, the fear of violent death is the principal motive that drives people to create a state by contracting to surrender their natural rights and submit to the absolute authority of a sovereign. This theory, presented in Leviathan, is considered a foundational text in the development of the social contract theory, influencing both contemporaries and later philosophers.

Leviathan

In Leviathan, Hobbes set out his doctrine of the foundation of states and legitimate governments and creating an objective science of morality. He argues that the only way to secure civil society is through the establishment of a commonwealth by social contract, a great "Leviathan" to which individuals submit their wills for the sake of peace and self-preservation. Hobbes was a champion of absolutism for the sovereign, but he also developed some of the fundamentals of European liberal thought: the right of the individual, the natural equality of all men, the artificial character of the political order, and the view that all legitimate political power must be "representative" and based on the consent of the people.

Impact and Legacy

Hobbes's ideas were controversial at the time, particularly his views on the absolute power of a sovereign, which were opposed by many who feared the potential for tyranny. Despite this, his work laid the groundwork for much of Western political philosophy. He is considered a key figure in the history of the philosophy of science, especially regarding his positions on empiricism and his mechanistic view of the universe.

Hobbes's influence extends beyond political philosophy and into the realms of jurisprudence, where his ideas about the social contract have influenced the development of legal systems, and ethics, where his work has contributed to the debate on the nature of human rights and the origins of moral obligation.

Death

Thomas Hobbes died on 4 December 1679 in Derbyshire, England. His legacy endures through his contributions to political philosophy, ethics, and the social sciences, with Leviathan remaining a seminal text in the study of political theory.