Leviathan

Leviathan written by Thomas Hobbes in 1651 is a political treatise that outlines Hobbes view of society and the role of government. Hobbes believed that humans were naturally selfish and violent and that life in the state of nature without any form of government would be solitary poor nasty brutish and short. To avoid this chaos Hobbes argued that individuals should enter into a social contract with a sovereign authority giving up some of their natural rights in exchange for protection and security. The sovereign whether a monarch or a democratically elected government is granted absolute power to maintain order and prevent conflict. Hobbes theory of the social contract has been influential in political philosophy and his views on the nature of humans and the role of government continue to be debated today. He believed that the ultimate goal of government was to ensure peace and stability and that the sovereigns power should be unlimited to achieve this end. Leviathan also discusses Hobbes views on religion and he argued that the state should have control over religious matters to prevent dissent and maintain unity. Overall Leviathan is a seminal work in political philosophy that has shaped discussions on the nature of government and society for centuries.