Thomas Hobbes (Katie Hollingsworth)

Hello! My name is Thomas Hobbes of Malmsbury, however I'm more commonly known as just Thomas Hobbes. I was born in 1588 in Westport, Wiltshire to Thomas Hobbes Sr. I was born prematurely and it was said that when I was born, as was fear. I have one older brother, Francis Hobbes who is a wealthy merchant, but has no family. I went to school at the University of Oxford where my principal, John Wilkinson had much influence on my beliefs. I graduated in 1608 with much knowledge in scholastic philosophy. I eventually moved to Paris where I studied Physics until I later moved back home and wrote The Elements of Law and Leviathan. Leviathan was a work concerning the structure of legitimate government and society and is seen as one of the first examples of the social contract theory. I have a very strong view on mankind and how humans were born and how they would eventually become. "Where all have reason to fear violent death and where rewarding human cooperation is all but impossible." I also believe that all human are naturally corrupt and evil and that there is no possible way to change this. I believe in a strong absolute monarch and that this is the only way to have a successful government. If the people have any power of any kind, they can overthrow the government because they are evil. I believe that it is not wisdom, but authority that makes a strong government.