Leviathan (Hobbes book)

High school (ages 12+)
Philosophy & Big Questions

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/leviathan-hobbes-book

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who wrote Leviathan (Hobbes book)?Thomas Hobbes
2. What is the year published?1651
3. What is the key philosophical concept?The social contract as the basis for political legitimacy and obligation
4. What is the book "Leviathan" about?It explains why we need rules and leaders to keep people safe, using the idea of a giant sea monster as a symbol for strong authority.
5. Why did Thomas Hobbes say life without rules is scary?He said people would always be afraid, fighting, and trying to survive, so life would be short and bad.

State of Nature: Hobbes's hypothetical condition of humanity without government, characterized by war, fear, and self-interest.
Social Contract Theory: The philosophical idea that governments derive their legitimacy from an implicit agreement among citizens to surrender certain freedoms for protection.
Sovereignty: The supreme authority within a territory, possessing the ultimate power to make and enforce laws.