Thomas+Hobbes

Thomas Hobbes was an English scholar from a poor family.[1] He was secretary to the revolutionary Francis Bacon and published his most famous work, the Leviathan in 1651. His conclusion on monarchies was that the people of a country must give up some of their independence to the leader of the country, most likely a monarch, to have a stable system. He believed that there was a contract between the ruler and their people, or at least those that didn’t want mass chaos. This contract was binding and allowed the ruler freedom and the ability to keep peace. His conclusion came after witnessing the execution of Charles I, short reign of Oliver Cromwell and then his son, and the reintroduction of the monarchy with Charles II.

Because of the logic he applied to this situation he became very influential. But there was much hostility against him as well. Later scholars believed him to be godless, immoral, cynical, and unfeeling.

Works Referenced
Chambers, Mortimer; Grew, Raymond; Herlihy, David; Rabb, Theodore K.; Woloch, Isser. The Western Experience: Sixth Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1991

1 All information from the above named source, pages 556-7