Thomas Hobbes (T-Hobbie) The Man Thomas Hobbes was a philosopher and scientist that lived during the seventeenth century. He believed in a social contract theory and was widely known throughout the world. He was a contributor to many future governments with his treatises that he wrote. He was well educated and overall a very smart man.
Thomas Hobbes was born on April 5, 1588 in Westport, Wiltshire, England. He was a philosopher who wrote many books, such as Leviathan. He attended the University of Oxford at the age of 15. Later in his life he became more of a scientist than a philosopher. He had an interest in various subjects like optics, motion, geometry, and many other things. As his studies continued, he began to become part of a circle of scientists that included people like René Descartes.
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He attended many meetings of the Virginia Company that was established by James I where he met many powerful figures. A few years later he wrote a book that defended King Charles I’s interpretation of his power. The royalist members of Parliament used this book to debate with the other members that disagreed with the King’s interpretation of his own power. This book, The Elements of Law, Natural and Political, was his first work dealing with political philosophy. Thomas Hobbes began presenting his political philosophies in different ways to different audiences. In these he rejected Aristotle’s theses about humans being naturally suited to political life; Hobbes believed humans were actually unnaturally suited to it. He thought that people were easily swayed, and competed with and criticized each other. Later on Hobbes went on to publish his social contract stating people usually trade their liberty for safety. He defines contract as “the mutual transferring of right.” In other words, it is individuals agreeing to transfer their natural