De Cive - Book by Thomas Hobbes

In De Cive, Thomas Hobbes explores the nature of political authority, the structure of society, and the foundation of government. The work is part of Hobbes’s broader philosophy of political science, which he later expands in Leviathan. Arguing that individuals in a state of nature are driven by self-interest, Hobbes contends that a strong, centralized government—based on a social contract—is necessary to ensure peace and order. De Cive lays the groundwork for Hobbes's ideas about absolute sovereignty, the role of the state in maintaining security, and the relationship between law and morality.