Leviathan

Leviathan is a foundational work of political philosophy examining human nature, authority, social order, and the origins of government. Hobbes argues that without a common power to maintain peace, individuals would exist in continual insecurity and conflict. To escape this dangerous condition, people enter a social contract and grant authority to a sovereign capable of enforcing laws and preserving stability. Through rigorous reasoning, the work explores liberty, obedience, justice, religion, and political obligation while asking how much power a government should possess. Its arguments on sovereignty and social order remain central to debates about politics, authority, and civil society.