Social Contract Theory Of Thomas Hobbes's The Leviathan

Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher who expressed his thoughts on social rule and authority in the seventeenth century. He is best known in present day politics for his work on political philosophy theories. Hobbes set out his doctrine in the foundation of a dominion and legitimate governments, in creating an independent science of morality. His book, the Leviathan published in sixteen fifty one, established the foundation for most of the western political philosophies. It was based from the perspective of a social contract theory. A social contract theory typically addresses the questions of the origination of the society and the legitimacy of the authority of the state over the individual. According to Hobbes, society is a population beneath a power of authority.. In which all individuals in that society yield a few rights for the sake of protection. With the freedom from any other questioning force meant that the abuse of power by this authority couldn’t be resisted. Because of the sovereign power, created for the protection of the people surrendering their own sovereign power/will, by which they are the authors of all decisions made by the sovereign.

The Leviathan was written through the English Civil war, which is why most of the book is focused in the necessity of a strong central authority to avoid the vices of conflict and civil war. His reading detail that he understood that government could be used to enforce security, and regulate people from a bad state. Thomas Hobbs expressed his thoughts about the war and all of its effect. He stated, “the miseries, and horrible calamities, that accompany a civil war”. This made Hobbs inquire on the purpose of the civil war and how to prevent another one. At this point his fo...

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...parties, they would not lead into a state of war at this time. As humanity has become more educated and they have developed their own traditions, beliefs, and morals; it is only adequate to have a multitude of political parties catering to a different set of people with diverse needs.

Thomas Hobbes was my ideal philosopher to do a research in depth on. I find his philosophical ideas and theories very intriguing. I am a strong believer in government and policies, for that is what brings order into nations. I believe a standard should always be set, so citizens and countrymen have both something to aspire to., such as commonality . In a simulation with the United States, where there would be no government available, not many of us would survive. Hobbes was the sole philosopher who was assured that the monarchy was fundamental for a civil society.