Leviathan (Books I and II)

Leviathan, written by Thomas Hobbes in 1651, explores the structure of society and the necessity of a strong central government to prevent chaos, drawing on the context of the English Civil War. The book introduces the concept of a social contract, arguing that individuals consent to surrender some freedoms to a sovereign authority in exchange for peace and security. Hobbes famously describes the natural state of humanity as 'Bellum omnium contra omnes' or 'the war of all against all,' emphasizing the need for governance. Notably, he also discusses the conditions under which the social contract could become void, allowing for the dissolution of the state.