Thomas Hobbes Books
Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) was an English philosopher best known for his political thought. His works laid the groundwork for modern political philosophy, emphasizing social contract theory and the necessity of a strong central authority to prevent chaos and conflict.
Known for: Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common-Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil, Leviathan: Or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common-Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civill
Books by Thomas Hobbes
Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common-Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil
Leviathan is a foundational work of political philosophy by Thomas Hobbes, first published in 1651. It argues that human beings, driven by self-interest and fear of death, must surrender their individ...
Leviathan: Or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common-Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civill
Leviathan, written by English philosopher Thomas Hobbes during the English Civil War, presents a foundational argument for the necessity of an absolute sovereign to maintain peace and prevent civil di...
Key Insights from Thomas Hobbes
Of Man
I begin the inquiry with the individual, for every commonwealth is nothing more than a multitude of men united. Understanding society requires understanding the man himself: how he perceives, thinks, and moves. Human thought originates in the senses—there is no innate idea or divine spark that furni...
From Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common-Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil
The Natural Condition of Mankind
If men live without a common power to keep them in awe, they inhabit what I call the state of nature. In such a state, every man is both master and enemy to every other, possessing an equal right to everything, including each other’s body. There can be no justice or injustice there, for the notions ...
From Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common-Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil
Of Man
In beginning with man, I look first to the senses, for they are the windows through which the world enters the mind. All thought originates in experience; there is no innate idea, no vision without motion. When an external body presses upon our organs of sense, it sets in motion a chain — from physi...
From Leviathan: Or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common-Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civill
Of the Passions
The movements of the body give rise not only to perceptions but also to passions — the sparks that drive human behavior. Every passion is either an appetite or an aversion. Appetite is the motion toward something; aversion is the motion away. Between these two forces lies the whole drama of human li...
From Leviathan: Or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common-Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civill
About Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) was an English philosopher best known for his political thought. His works laid the groundwork for modern political philosophy, emphasizing social contract theory and the necessity of a strong central authority to prevent chaos and conflict.
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Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) was an English philosopher best known for his political thought. His works laid the groundwork for modern political philosophy, emphasizing social contract theory and the necessity of a strong central authority to prevent chaos and conflict.
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