Leviathan

'The life of man, solitary, poore, nasty, brutish, and short.' Originally published in 1651, Leviathan is a hugely influential work of political philosophy, and is still widely read and studied to this day. Written during the English Civil War, of which Hobbes had first-hand experience, Leviathan argues for political rule by an absolute authority. Hobbes claimed that human nature was, at its core, ruthless and brutal: people were selfish, self-interested and likely to cause conflict for one another. In order to combat this chaos, individuals ought to submit to a sovereign – a 'Leviathan' – in exchange for order, security and peace. A powerful argument which lay the groundwork for modern social contract theory, Leviathan has influenced government structure across the world. Thomas Hobbes (1588 – 1679) was an English philosopher, scientist and historian. He is best known for his book, Leviathan, in which he pioneers a new interpretation of social contract theory. Although a controversial figure during his life, his work has profoundly influenced our understanding of political philosophy and, more broadly, human nature.