Leviathan

Exploring the structure of society and government, this influential work by Thomas Hobbes introduces social contract theory, arguing for the necessity of an absolute sovereign to prevent civil chaos. Written during the tumult of the English Civil War, it emphasizes the dangers of a state of nature, where life is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." The book is considered a cornerstone of western political thought, likened to Machiavelli's The Prince, and its themes remain relevant in discussions of governance and authority.