⚔️ Thomas Hobbes – State of Nature & Absolute Sovereignty
UPSC PSIR | Western Political Thinkers | Social Contract Theory Begins
1️⃣ INTRODUCTION
Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) wrote Leviathan.
He lived during English Civil War.
Central Concern: How to prevent chaos and civil war?
2️⃣ STATE OF NATURE
Pre-political condition of humanity.
Characteristics:
- No government
- No law
- No security
- Equality of vulnerability
Life is:
“Solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.”
3️⃣ HUMAN NATURE
Humans are:
- Self-interested
- Competitive
- Driven by fear
- Desire power
Equality creates conflict.
4️⃣ SOCIAL CONTRACT
To escape chaos, individuals agree to:
- Surrender rights
- Create sovereign authority
Contract is among people, not with sovereign.
5️⃣ SOVEREIGNTY
Sovereign must be:
- Absolute
- Indivisible
- Unlimited
Without absolute power, state collapses.
6️⃣ RIGHTS & LIBERTY
Natural right = Right to self-preservation.
Civil liberty exists only under sovereign.
7️⃣ HOBBES & MODERN STATE
- Foundation of sovereignty doctrine
- Strong centralized authority
- Legal positivism roots
MAINS QUESTIONS
- Explain Hobbes’ state of nature.
- Why does Hobbes support absolute sovereignty?
- Is Hobbes authoritarian?
QUICK REVISION MAP
- State of nature
- Fear & insecurity
- Social contract
- Absolute sovereign
- Self-preservation
“Covenants without sword are but words.”
Shaktimatha Learning – Western Thinkers Series
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