Thomas Hobbes

Life of Thomas Hobbes

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) was an English philosopher and political theorist who is best known for his work on the social contract theory. He is considered one of the most influential figures in the history of political thought and is often referred to as the father of modern political philosophy.
Hobbes was born in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, England, in His father was a clergyman and his mother was a devout Puritan. He was educated at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, where he studied classical literature, mathematics, and philosophy. He was particularly influenced by the works of Aristotle and Plato.
Hobbes was a strong advocate of the absolute power of the sovereign, believing that the only way to ensure peace and stability in a society was to have a strong central government. He argued that the people should give up some of their rights in exchange for protection from the government. This idea of a social contract between the people and the government was the basis of his most famous work, Leviathan (1651).
In Leviathan, Hobbes argued that the only way to ensure peace and stability in a society was to have a strong central government. He argued that the people should give up some of their rights in exchange for protection from the government. He believed that the government should have absolute power and that it should be able to make laws and enforce them. He also argued that the government should be able to punish those who disobey the laws.
Hobbes also wrote extensively on the nature of human nature. He argued that humans are naturally selfish and that they will always act in their own self-interest. He believed that humans are driven by a desire for power and that they will do whatever it takes to get what they want. He argued that humans are naturally competitive and that they will always seek to gain an advantage over others.
Hobbes also wrote about the nature of morality. He argued that morality is based on self-interest and that it is not absolute. He argued that morality is relative and that it is determined by the circumstances of each individual. He argued that morality should be based on the principle of utility, which states that an action is moral if it produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
Hobbes' work had a profound influence on the development of political thought in the 17th and 18th centuries. His ideas were adopted by many of the leading political thinkers of the time, including John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Immanuel Kant. His work also had a major influence on the development of modern democracy.
Hobbes died in 1679 at the age of He is remembered as one of the most influential figures in the history of political thought and is often referred to as the father of modern political philosophy. His work continues to be studied and discussed by scholars and students of political science and philosophy.

Teachings of Thomas Hobbes

Human nature is essentially selfish and competitive.
People are naturally equal in their ability to survive and compete.
The natural state of mankind is a state of war.
People are motivated by fear and desire.
People are rational and capable of making decisions based on their own self-interest.
People are capable of forming social contracts to protect their own interests.
The only way to escape the state of war is to form a government.
The government should have absolute power to enforce laws and protect its citizens.
The government should be based on a social contract between the people and the ruler.
People should be free to pursue their own interests as long as they do not harm others.
People should be free to express their opinions and beliefs.
People should be free to pursue their own economic interests.
People should be free to pursue their own religious beliefs.
People should be free to pursue their own scientific and artistic interests.
People should be free to pursue their own leisure activities.
People should be free to pursue their own educational interests.
People should be free to pursue their own political interests.
People should be free to pursue their own moral interests.
People should be free to pursue their own social interests.
People should be free to pursue their own philosophical interests.