Final answer:
Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher who pioneered the idea of a social contract, which was an agreement between individuals and the government. He believed that this contract was necessary to establish order and avoid a state of nature characterized by constant conflict.
Step-by-step explanation:
Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher who lived from 1588 to 1679. He was greatly influenced by the events of the time, particularly the English Civil War, which began in the 1640s. Hobbes pioneered the idea of a social contract, which was an agreement between individuals and the government, where people agree to live under a certain type of governmental system. According to Hobbes, this contract was necessary to establish order and avoid a state of nature where there would be constant conflict and chaos.