Thomas Hobbes

Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher, scientist, and historian, best known for his political philosophy, especially as articulated in his masterpiece Leviathan (1651). He is considered to be one of the founders of modern political philosophy. Hobbes was born on 5 April 1588 in Westport, now part of Malmesbury in Wiltshire, England. He was the son of Thomas Hobbes Sr., a disgraced vicar who had brawled in front of his own church and abandoned his family. Hobbes later reported that he was born prematurely when his mother heard of the coming invasion of the Spanish Armada, and that "my mother gave birth to twins: myself and fear." He was raised by his uncle, Francis Hobbes, a wealthy glove manufacturer who provided for his education. He studied at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, and graduated in 1608. Hobbes became a tutor to the Cavendish family, and travelled extensively with them in Europe. He met many prominent intellectuals and scholars, such as Galileo, Descartes, Gassendi, and Mersenne. He also developed an interest in mathematics, physics, and natural philosophy. He wrote several works on these subjects, such as De Cive (1642), De Corpore (1655), and De Homine (1658). Hobbes's most famous work is Leviathan, published in 1651. It is a political treatise that argues for the necessity of a strong central authority to avoid the chaos and disorder of civil war. Hobbes presents a bleak view of human nature as driven by self-interest and fear of death. He claims that in the state of nature, where there is no government or law, people live in a constant state of war of "every man against every man". In such a condition, life is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." To escape this misery, people enter into a social contract, whereby they give up some of their natural rights and liberties to a sovereign ruler or assembly, who has the absolute power to maintain peace and order. Hobbes calls this artificial person the Leviathan, after the biblical sea monster. Hobbes defends the idea of monarchy as the best form of government, but also allows for other forms such as democracy or aristocracy. Hobbes's political philosophy was controversial and influential in his time and beyond. He was accused of atheism, heresy, and treason by his critics. He was also praised by some as a defender of reason, science, and civilisation. His ideas have inspired many thinkers and movements in the fields of philosophy, politics, law, sociology, psychology, and literature.