374

Hobbes is best known for creating a rational philosophical justification for why we should all obey an absolute monarch. Essentially he believed it was worth it to trade off any lost freedom for the security of living in the State. The funny part about this is that even though his philosophy is more or less a justification for sticking with the existing world order, he was still considered a dangerous radical and atheist, because his justification for the authority of Kings was a rational one, rather than just saying that they had a divine right to rule. He even ended up being censured by the State. It was pretty rough for philosophers back then I guess, they really couldn't catch a break.

Hobbes is best known for creating a rational philosophical justification for why we should all obey an absolute monarch. Essentially he believed it was worth it to trade off any lost freedom for the security of living in the State. The funny part about this is that even though his philosophy is more or less a justification for sticking with the existing world order, he was still considered a dangerous radical and atheist, because his justification for the authority of Kings was a rational one, rather than just saying that they had a divine right to rule. He even ended up being censured by the State. It was pretty rough for philosophers back then I guess, they really couldn't catch a break.