Thomas Hobbes
English philosopher and political theorist, author of Leviathan
Thomas Hobbes (5 April 1588 – 4 December 1679) was an English philosopher and political theorist, best known for his 1651 book *Leviathan*, in which he expounds an influential formulation of social contract theory. He is considered to be one of the founders of modern political philosophy. Born prematurely in Westport, Wiltshire, when his mother heard of the approaching Spanish Armada, Hobbes later claimed that his mother gave birth to “twins: myself and fear.” His father, an uneducated vicar, abandoned the family after a fight, leaving Hobbes and his siblings in the care of a wealthy uncle. Educated at local schools and by a private tutor, Hobbes proved an able student, translating Euripides’ *Medea* into Latin verse before attending Magdalen Hall, Oxford, where he was taught scholastic logic and mathematics. He completed his degree at St John’s College, Cambridge, in 1608. He then became tutor to William Cavendish, beginning a lifelong connection with the Cavendish family. A grand tour of Europe with his pupil exposed Hobbes to new scientific methods and figures such as Galileo, shaping his intellectual development. In 1628, he published the first English translation of Thucydides’ *History of the Peloponnesian War* directly from a Greek manuscript, admiring Thucydides as the most politic historiographer. He also briefly worked as Francis Bacon’s amanuensis, translating some of Bacon’s essays into Latin. After returning to England from France in 1637, Hobbes witnessed the English Civil War, which heavily influenced his advocacy for an absolute sovereign as the solution to conflict. Beyond social contract theory, *Leviathan* popularized the concepts of the state of nature as a “war of all against all” and laws of nature. His other major works include the trilogy *De Cive*, *De Corpore*, and *De Homine*, as well as the posthumous *Behemoth*. A polymath, Hobbes contributed to history, jurisprudence, geometry, optics, theology, and ethics, despite facing accusations of atheism and contentious debates with contemporaries.
- born
- 5 April 1588 (Old Style), Westport, Wiltshire, England
- died
- 4 December 1679
- field
- Philosophy, political theory
- nationality
- English
- known_for
- Leviathan (1651), social contract theory, state of nature ('war of all against all')
Lore & Background
Hobbes was born prematurely in Westport, now part of Malmesbury, Wiltshire, on 5 April 1588 (Old Style). His father, Thomas Sr., a vicar, left the family after a fight, and Hobbes was raised under the care of his wealthy uncle Francis. He was educated at Westport church, Malmesbury school, and a private school run by Robert Latimer. Between 1601 and 1602 he attended Magdalen Hall, Oxford, where he studied scholastic logic and mathematics. Before going up to Oxford, he translated Euripides's Medea from Greek into Latin verse. He completed his B.A. by incorporation at St John's College, Cambridge, in 1608. He then became tutor to William Cavendish (later Earl of Devonshire), beginning a lifelong connection with the Cavendish family. Hobbes accompanied the younger William Cavendish on a grand tour of Europe between 1610 and 1615, meeting figures such as Galileo in 1636. He returned to England from France in 1637. During the English Civil War (1642–1651), Hobbes was in France from 1640 to 1651, not in England. His experiences in Europe and the war's brutality influenced his advocacy for absolute sovereignty in Leviathan. He also wrote The Elements of Law (circulated 1640), De Cive (1642), De Corpore (1655), De Homine (1658), and Behemoth (1681).
Reader's Guide
Hobbes contributed to history, jurisprudence, geometry, optics, theology, classical translations, ethics, and philosophy. His key ideas include the state of nature ('war of all against all'), laws of nature, and social contract theory. He assisted Francis Bacon by translating several of his Essays into Latin, but the Essays were translated by others. He disdained experimental work in physics. His system of thought united the phenomena of Body, Man, and the State.
Did You Know?
- Hobbes reported that his mother gave birth to 'twins: myself and fear' upon hearing of the Spanish Armada's invasion.
- Hobbes's first translation of a classical work was Euripides's Medea into Latin verse, done before attending Oxford.
- Hobbes visited Galileo in Florence in 1636 while Galileo was under house arrest.
- Hobbes's edition of Thucydides's History of the Peloponnesian War (1628) was the first English translation directly from a Greek manuscript.
Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)
"Thomas Hobbes (5 April 1588 – 4 December 1679) was an English philosopher, whose 1651 book Leviathan established the agenda for nearly all subsequent Western political philosophy." — Thomas Hobbes "The passion of laughter is nothing else but a sudden glory arising from sudden conception of some eminency in ourselves, by comparison with the infirmities of others, or with our own formerly..." — Thomas Hobbes "...in statu naturae Mensuram juris esse Utilitatem." — Thomas Hobbes "In the state of nature, Profit is the measure of Right." — Thomas Hobbes
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