Leviathan

Focusing on the structure of society and the necessity of a strong government, Hobbes presents a compelling argument for the social contract and absolute sovereignty in the context of the English Civil War. He contrasts the chaos of a state of nature, characterized by constant conflict, with the stability provided by a unified authority. This influential work is a cornerstone of social contract theory, paralleling Machiavelli's insights on power and governance, and remains a pivotal text in discussions of statecraft and political philosophy.