Final answer:
Fear in Thomas Hobbes's Leviathan is foundational in prompting individuals to transition from the chaotic state of nature to a society governed by a sovereign power. Fear is utilized as a tool to maintain order and prevent the societal collapse that would occur without the Leviathan's authority.
Step-by-step explanation:
The role of fear in Thomas Hobbes's Leviathan is pivotal in explaining the human condition in both the state of nature and under the sovereign power of the Leviathan. In the state of nature, Hobbes describes a world where fear of violent death leads to a life that is 'solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.' This fear drives individuals to forsake their liberties and create a social contract, yielding their rights to a monarch for the sake of security and peace. Under the Leviathan, the same fear persists but is transformed; it is no longer the fear of each other but the fear of the sovereign’s absolute power and the punishments that could be meted out for breaches of the social contract. This fear maintains order and discourages transgressions against the laws established by the Leviathan. Although fear is present in both scenarios, its role shifts from causing a war-like state of chaos to enforcing order and protecting citizens from the violence that characterized life before the social contract.