Thomas Hobbes

Laurie Bagby (Kansas State University)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.04: English Writing and Culture of the Seventeenth Century, 1625-1688.
Vol. editors: Jennifer Brady (Rhodes College), Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Neil Forsyth (Université de Lausanne), Claire Preston (Queen Mary, University of London), J A Roe (University of York), Virginia Mason Vaughan (Clark University)

Dates

Born 5 Apr 1588
Died 4 Dec 1679
Activity 1642-1679

Places

Born in England
Active in England

Activities

Primary

Philosopher

Other

Mathematician
Natural scientist

Resources

Hobbes' Works

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Thomas Hobbes was a 17th Century English political philosopher who pioneered the modern social contract theory of government. Hobbes’s most famous work,

Leviathan

, describes man’s dire condition in the “state of nature” and argues that fear of violent death would compel human beings to contract with each other to form a sovereign government. Such a government would then have absolute power in order to prevent conflict. Hobbes advocated monarchy as the best solution to the civil conflict he so feared. However, his political philosophy formed the foundation for future social contract theory which developed in a more liberal direction.

Thomas Hobbes was born April 5, 1588 in Westport, near Malmesbury, Wiltshire, England. Not much is known about his mother. According to A.P.

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3331 words

Citation: Bagby, Laurie. "Thomas Hobbes". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 05 July 2008 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=2154, accessed 24 April 2024.]

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