Who is the author of "The Leviathan" and what is its main argument?

The author of "The Leviathan" is Thomas Hobbes, and this work presents a compelling argument for the necessity of a strong central authority to maintain order and prevent chaos in society. Hobbes wrote during a time of political turmoil in England, which influenced his views on the nature of government and human behavior.

In "The Leviathan," Hobbes posits that individuals in a state of nature act out of self-interest and are in constant conflict, leading to a "war of all against all." To escape this state of perpetual fear and violence, he argues that people must collectively agree to surrender some of their freedoms to a sovereign power—a social contract. This sovereign, whether a monarch or an assembly, must wield absolute power to be effective in maintaining peace and security.

By advocating for a strong central authority, Hobbes emphasized the importance of a powerful government to ensure societal stability, a viewpoint that contrasts with other Enlightenment thinkers who valued individual rights and limited government power. This foundational idea in political philosophy significantly impacted modern concepts of governance and authority.