Thomas Hobbes (born , Westport, Wiltshire, England—died , Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire) was an English philosopher, scientist, and historian, best known for his political philosophy, especially as articulated in his masterpiece Leviathan (1651). The 17 th Century English philosopher Thomas Hobbes is now widely regarded as one of a handful of truly great political philosophers, whose masterwork Leviathan rivals in significance the political writings of Plato, Aristotle, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, and Rawls. Read a brief biography about the political philosopher Thomas Hobbes.

Understanding the Context

Discover why his best-known work 'Leviathan' made him unpopular with the French authorities. Thomas Hobbes - Leviathan, Social Contract, Enlightenment: Hobbes presented his political philosophy in different forms for different audiences. De Cive states his theory in what he regarded as its most scientific form. JSTOR Daily: Subverting the Leviathan: Reading Thomas Hobbes as a Radical Democrat Hobbes contributed to a diverse array of fields, including history, jurisprudence, geometry, optics, theology, classical translations, ethics, as well as philosophy in general, marking him as a polymath.

Key Insights

Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679), whose current reputation rests largely on his political philosophy, was a thinker with wide-ranging interests. In philosophy, he defended a range of materialist, nominalist, and empiricist views against Cartesian and Aristotelian alternatives. Discover the genius of Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes, the iconic strip blending childhood wonder, satire, and imagination. A timeless favorite that shaped comics history. Calvin and Hobbes is an American daily comic strip created by cartoonist Bill Watterson and syndicated from , to .

Final Thoughts

The English philosopher Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) is best known for his political thought, and deservedly so. His vision of the world is strikingly original and still relevant to contemporary politics.