# Thomas Hobbes

## Biography

Thomas Hobbes was an influential English philosopher, historian, and scientist, born prematurely in 1588 in Westport, Wiltshire, reportedly due to his mother's fear of the Spanish Armada. He humorously claimed that he and fear were born twins. Hobbes received a classical education, attending Magdalen Hall at Oxford. After graduating in 1608, he began a lifelong association with the aristocratic Cavendish family, serving as a tutor, traveling companion, and political adviser, which exposed him to prominent intellectual circles across Europe.

His experiences, particularly witnessing the English Civil Wars, profoundly shaped his political philosophy. Hobbes is best known for his seminal work, Leviathan, published in 1651. In it, he posited his influential social contract theory, arguing that in a "state of nature," human life would be "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." To escape this condition, individuals voluntarily surrender some freedoms to an absolute sovereign, ensuring collective security and order. He maintained that strong government powers were justified by the self-interested consent of citizens, trading liberty for safety. Hobbes continued to write on diverse subjects, including history, geometry, and optics, until his death in 1679.

## Books

- [Leviathan](https://samolit.com/books/95815)