The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations
Abstract
In this article, the author argues that although Hobbes is often associated with authoritarianism, his account of familial dominion in Leviathan reveals important liberal elements, particularly his emphasis on individual consent, personal autonomy, and the equality of the sexes in determining authority. By using the family as an analogy for political rule, Hobbes shows that sovereign power ultimately derives from individuals who authorize it, even if later constrained by the demands of self‑preservation and majority decision-making. The paper concludes that Hobbes cannot be fully classified as a liberal thinker, but his framework contains liberal ends embedded within illiberal mechanisms, making him a crucial precursor to later liberal political theory.
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Recommended Citation
Esposito, Max
(2026)
"The Family and Individual Freedoms: Thomas Hobbes' Complex Relationship with Liberalism,"
The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations: Vol. 35, Article 11.
Available at:
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/political-realm/vol35/iss1/11