Leviathan, published in 1651, is Thomas Hobbes’s seminal work of political philosophy that argues for a strong, centralized authority to avoid the chaos of the “state of nature.” Hobbes presents a pessimistic view of human nature, asserting that life without government would be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” To maintain peace and social order, individuals must surrender some freedoms to a sovereign power. Leviathan shaped modern concepts of social contract theory and statecraft, making it essential reading in political science and philosophy.
