Thomas Hobbes

Thomas Hobbes is the English political philosopher whose Leviathan remains a cornerstone of early modern political thought. In that work, and in related writings such as Behemoth, he examines authority, conflict, fear, and the need for order in society. Thomas Hobbes is known for his stark view of human nature and for arguments that still shape debates about government and security today. Readers turn to him for foundational philosophy, a demanding but influential account of the state, and a direct style that rewards especially close reading.