Leviathan (Thomas Hobbes)

"Leviathan," written by Thomas Hobbes in 1651, is a foundational political philosophy text that argues for a strong central authority to maintain social order. Hobbes posits that in a natural state without government, life would be chaotic and violent ("solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short"). To escape this state, individuals collectively agree to surrender some freedoms to a sovereign power—whether a monarch or assembly—imbuing it with absolute authority to ensure peace and security. Hobbes emphasizes that this social contract is essential for a stable and functioning society.