Hobbes - Authority, Human Rights and Social Order in Modern Social Thought

Explore the political and social philosophy of Thomas Hobbes in this 43-minute lecture from Yale University's "Foundations of Modern Social Thought" course. Delve into Hobbes's life during the tumultuous period of the British monarchy and how it influenced his ideas on sovereignty and security. Examine key concepts such as the state of nature, equality of men, social contract, and the role of a strong sovereign. Learn about Hobbes's controversial stance on legitimate rule and the right of subjects to transfer allegiance. Discover why Hobbes is considered the first rational choice theorist and how his work has been rediscovered by modern economists and social scientists. The lecture covers Hobbes's historical context, his entry into politics as a royalist, the structure and themes of "Leviathan," his views on human nature, the social contract theory, the power of the sovereign, and an assessment of his contributions and shortcomings to political thought.