Philip Pettit, Hobbes's Distinctive view of the Social Contract

Thomas Hobbes’ social contract theory addresses the tension between maintaining a strong state to prevent civil dissension and respecting individual autonomy. Hobbes posits that human beings, driven by self-interest and a desire for eminence, exist in a "condition of nature" characterized by constant distrust and potential violence. Because individuals cannot trust one another to honor bilateral agreements, they must establish an absolute sovereign to enforce laws. This sovereign, while possessing supreme power, remains constrained by the necessity of maintaining public support to avoid widespread lawlessness. Rather than a historical event, the social contract serves as a theoretical tool to reveal the essential function of the state: providing peace through a regime of law that most citizens accept as a rational alternative to the chaos of the state of nature.