A Critique of Hobbes’ Notion of the Absolute Sovereign
Abstract
This study is a critique of Thomas Hobbes’ notion of the Absolute Sovereign. The study employs textual and expository analysis. The paper discovered that in Hobbes' society, people decide to come into a commonwealth because of the fear of surrendering all their rights to an Absolute Sovereign who becomes the author of morality and law. Hobbes' theory of Absolute Sovereign breeds chaos and social disorder as well as dictatorship and authoritarianism. This would especially be dangerous in the age of hi-tech nuclear weaponry. This work is therefore inspired the anomalies in Hobbes’ premises and conclusion. The paper finally recommends that a political theory should be formulated towards solving the holistic existential problems of people and not just an aspect of it.
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