A great leap in the dark . . .

Today is the birthday of Thomas Hobbes (April 5, 1588 – December 4, 1679), philosopher, best known for his book, Leviathan. He has been referred to as the founding father of modern political philosophy.

In 1651, Thomas Hobbes publishes Leviathan, which basically says that man's natural state is anarchic competition. He puts forth the idea that man, in his self-interest, forms peaceful societies via the social contract, without which life would be "nasty, brutish, and short", perpetually chaotic and at war.

Here is another author whose books were banned and burned. Four years after Thomas Hobbes’s death, the University of Oxford condemned his works The Citizen and Leviathan and burned them at the stake. (1)

"Such is the nature of men, that howsoever they may acknowledge many others to be more witty, or more eloquent, or more learned; yet they will hardly believe there be many so wise as themselves." - Thomas Hobbes

"Curiosity is the lust of the mind." - Thomas Hobbes

Trivia bit: "I am about to take my last voyage, a great leap in the dark." attributed as Thomas Hobbes last words.

Image source (1)