The Commonwealth (Hobbes)

In Hobbes’s political philosophy, "The Commonwealth" refers to a unified political community formed through a social contract, where individuals collectively agree to surrender certain freedoms to a sovereign authority. This authority, often an absolute ruler or governing body, maintains order, security, and peace by enforcing laws. Hobbes believed that without such a central authority, society would fall into chaos and violence—a state he called the "state of nature." The Commonwealth thus represents structured authority created voluntarily to protect people from their own tendencies toward conflict and to ensure social stability.