Question

Thomas Hobbes believed in a strong, centralized authority to prevent chaos in human society, contrasting with Enlightenment thinkers who emphasized individual rights, reason, and the potential for democratic governance; two key differences are Hobbes' advocacy for absolute monarchy as necessary to maintain order, and his pessimistic view of human nature, which posits that people are inherently self-interested and need control, while Enlightenment thinkers generally held a more optimistic perspective on human potential and the importance of social contract principles.
Summarize and simplify this.

Answer 1

Thomas Hobbes believed in a strong, central authority, like an absolute monarchy, to maintain order and prevent chaos because he viewed humans as inherently self-interested and needing control. In contrast, Enlightenment thinkers focused on individual rights, reason, and the potential for democracy, holding a more optimistic view of human nature and emphasizing the importance of social contracts.