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Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan!

Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan! 

The axiom, fear; 

The method, logic; 

The conclusion, despotism.

Published in 1651 during the chaos of the English Civil War, it is one of the most influential works of political philosophy ever written.

Hobbes was essentially trying to solve one problem: 

How do we keep people from killing each other?

Here is a breakdown of the core ideas in Leviathan:

1. The State of Nature

Hobbes asks us to imagine a world with no laws, no government, and no police. He calls this the "State of Nature." In this state, everyone has a "right to everything," which leads to a "war of all against all."

Because humans are naturally competitive and selfish, he famously describes life in this state as:

"Solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short."

2. The Social Contract

To escape this miserable state of nature, Hobbes argues that rational people will eventually agree to a Social Contract.

  • The Deal: You give up your absolute freedom to do whatever you want.

  • The Reward: You gain safety, security, and the rule of law.

  • The Catch: This contract is made between the people, not between the people and the ruler. This means you can't easily "sue" the government for breaking the deal.

3. The Leviathan (The Sovereign)

The "Leviathan" is the name Hobbes gives to the state or the sovereign ruler. The name comes from a giant sea monster in the Bible, symbolizing that the government must be all-powerful and awe-inspiring to keep people in check.

  • Hobbes preferred an Absolute Monarchy because he believed divided power (like a parliament and a king fighting) leads to civil war.

  • The sovereign’s only real job is to protect the people. If the sovereign fails to provide security, the contract is effectively void.

4. Materialism and Human Nature

Hobbes was a "materialist," meaning he believed everything in the universe including human thoughts and emotions was just matter in motion.

  • Desire vs. Fear: He argued we are driven by two main things: the desire for power and the intense fear of violent death.

  • No "Greatest Good": Unlike earlier philosophers, Hobbes didn't think there was a "highest good" for humans to achieve; he just thought there was a "greatest evil" (death) to avoid.

Why is it still famous today?

Even though most modern countries aren't absolute monarchies, Hobbes’ ideas laid the groundwork for how we think about:

  1. Political Legitimacy: The idea that government comes from the consent of the governed, not from God (divine right).

  2. Individual Rights: The idea that we have a natural right to self-preservation.

  3. Realism: The belief that international politics is still in a "state of nature" because there is no global "Leviathan" to keep countries from going to war.



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