Hobbes (tiger)

Hobbes’s tiger refers to the metaphor from philosopher Thomas Hobbes’s social contract theory, where he describes humans as naturally self-interested and driven by desire, much like a predator. The tiger symbolizes our innate instincts for survival, power, and dominance. Hobbes believed that in a state of natural chaos, people are like wild animals—competitive and mistrustful—so society requires a strong authority (a social contract) to maintain order. The “tiger” encapsulates the idea that, without social rules, human behavior tends toward conflict, and only through collective agreement can peace and stability be achieved.