The Leviathan (Thomas Hobbes)

"The Leviathan," written by Thomas Hobbes in 1651, explores social contract theory and the necessity of a strong, central authority to maintain order. Hobbes argues that in a state of nature, humans act on self-interest, leading to chaos and violence. To escape this condition, individuals collectively agree to surrender some freedoms to a sovereign power—such as a monarchy—granting it the authority to enforce peace and security. The Leviathan symbolizes this sovereign state, highlighting the balance between individual liberty and collective safety, emphasizing that without government, life would be "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short."