Thomas Hobbes

Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) was an English philosopher, political thinker, and mathematician. After studying at Oxford, he entered the service of the Cavendish family, working for many years as a tutor, adviser, and secretary. During the English Civil War, he lived in Paris. His major works include De Cive (1642) and Leviathan (1651), which address the state, society, and political order. Hobbes is regarded as one of the most influential figures in political philosophy and as a pioneer of social contract theory.