Security in the Philosophical Thought of Thomas Hobbes

Purpose: The aim of the research, whose findings are presented in this article, was to determine the contribution of Thomas Hobbes to the materialist-empirical concept of security. Design/Methodology/Approach: The main research problem was formulated as the question: What is the place of the materialist-empirical concept of security in the philosophical thought of Thomas Hobbes? The research process utilized both theoretical and empirical methods characteristic of social sciences, including source analysis, case studies, and expert interviews (Wiśniewski). European literature on the subject was reviewed alongside empirical material derived from eleven interviews with Polish experts representing security studies, philosophy, sociology, and political science. The research focused on Hobbes's views on the state as both the guarantor and subject of security. Findings: The materialist-empirical concept of security in Hobbes's work is illustrated in his most significant work, “Leviathan, or the Matter, Form, and Power of a Commonwealth Ecclesiastical and Civil”. Leviathan emerged from a pessimistic view of human nature and humanity's longing for political stability. The realization of this longing was the security provided by the state, which wielded both military and spiritual-religious power. Security and stability arose from limiting human absolute freedom, including mitigating or even eliminating evils such as distrust, hostility, and unrestrained aggression. This security, stability, and peace were to be guaranteed by a state established through a social contract that could not be broken. For Hobbes, without the state, there is no internal security, order, or structure that enables society to live and develop. At the same time, Hobbes acknowledged that the state is not always capable of ensuring external security. This necessitates international agreements and supranational institutions that effectively guarantee global security. Practical Implications: The practical implications primarily relate to the need for a more in-depth and critical examination of the works of Thomas Hobbes. Specifically, Hobbes's views should be subjected to comprehensive scientific reflection from the perspective of security studies. Originality/Value: The research findings highlight the significant contribution of Thomas Hobbes to the modern framework of the materialist-empirical concept of security.