Hobbesian
|Hob-be-si-an|
🇺🇸
/hɑːbˈbiːziən/
🇬🇧
/hɒbˈbiːziən/
Relating to Hobbes's view: harsh human nature and need for strong sovereign
Etymology
'Hobbesian' originates from English, specifically the surname 'Hobbes', where the suffix '-ian' meant 'belonging to or relating to'.
'Hobbesian' was formed from the name 'Hobbes' (from the 17th-century philosopher Thomas Hobbes); the surname 'Hobbes' itself developed from the Middle English pet form 'Hobbe' (a diminutive of 'Robert'), and the adjectival suffix '-ian' was added in Modern English to create 'Hobbesian'.
Initially it meant 'of or relating to (the person) Hobbes'; over time it evolved to be used specifically for ideas, attitudes, or theories characteristic of Thomas Hobbes's political philosophy.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
relating to or characteristic of the political philosophy of Thomas Hobbes, especially the view that humans are essentially self-interested and that a strong sovereign authority is necessary to prevent a violent 'state of nature'.
The novel depicts a Hobbesian world in which social order can be maintained only by an absolute power.
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Adjective 2
of or relating to Thomas Hobbes himself or to his writings and ideas in a general, nontechnical sense.
Scholars discussed Hobbesian themes in 17th-century political thought.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/29 20:14