Thomas Hobbes

To what extent should we obey the rulers and to what extent should we question them and spark revolutions in the pursuit of reformation? There was another most famous Renaissance genius, Thomas Hobbes, was an English philosopher active in the 17th century who thought about one of the most contentious issues of not only his time but something that is still relevant today in all eras and in all universities.

The English civil war, which raged across England for over ten years, was a vital event that he had the opportunity to observe. It was this bloody and devasting struggle that caused Hobbes to reflect on the most important issue of the protection and obedience of the people.

He adhered to the "Social Contract Theory" that was rapidly gaining ground among opposition organizations and saw the government as the protector and supplier of the people. He presented a brilliant political philosophy to create a peaceful connection between the two. He wrote the book "Leviathan" in 1651, which is considered to be the most convincing, specific, and eloquent argument ever made for obeying the law.

Born: April 5, 1588
Died: December 4, 1679 (aged 91)
Subjects Of Study: Motion; Absolutism; Church and state; Commonwealth; Egoism; Natural law; Nominalism; Social contract; Sovereignty