Thomas Hobbes

John Michael Wright's portrait of Thomas Hobbes, Public Domain

Thomas Hobbes

1588-1679

Hobbes was famous for negative views about the selfishness of human beings as well as for the development of social contract theory. He is an anomaly from other thinkers of his time, who believed that individuals were so dangerous, they needed a strong leader or Leviathan to control them.

Hobbes grew up in a small town, received a good education, and went to work as a private tutor. He explored science, mathematics, and philosophy, writing The Elements of Law, which was not well received in England. He fled to France where he continued writing and eventually became a math instructor to the young English Prince Charles during the English Civil War. After his great work, Leviathan, was published, he became famous. Supporters of British royalty living in France did not like his book, nor did members of the Church. He returned to England where his ideas were the subject of controversy. Eventually, he was forbidden from publishing anything in Great Britain although his works were published in Amsterdam.

 Khan Academy "The Social Contract/Foundations of American Democracy/US Government and Civics", You-tube

 

 

Main Ideas

• People are by nature selfish.
• In their natural state, people compete for everything, leading to war and conflict, so people agree to a social contract in which they give up their natural rights for the sake of their own security. Although there may be abuse of government power, that is the price of peace.
• A strong central government is needed to maintain order.
• The "state" (Leviathan) is an artificial being made up of men for their security.
• Heaven and Hell exist on Earth.

Famous Works

• Leviathan

Watch this review of Hobbes' theory of exchanging freedom for security:

The School of Life "Political Theory-Thomas Hobbes", You-tube

 

 

Famous Statements

• "A great leap in the dark" (uttered on his deathbed)
• [A life without government is] "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short".

Interesting Trivia

Hobbes' mother went into labour early when she heard of the possible invasion of England by the Spanish Armada, causing him to note, "My mother gave birth to twins, myself and fear." His father, a minister, abandoned his family after getting into a fight with another minister outside his church.