Question

Who was the 17th century British philosopher who believed that without law and order, there is no real freedom, and thus justified the establishment of a powerful governmental authority to avoid anarchy?

1) John Locke
2) Thomas Hobbes
3) Jean-Jacques Rousseau
4) Adam Smith

Answer 1

Thomas Hobbes is the 17th century British philosopher who believed that a strong governmental authority was necessary to prevent anarchy and ensure real freedom through a social contract.

Step-by-step explanation:

The 17th century British philosopher who believed that without law and order, there is no real freedom, and thus justified the establishment of a powerful governmental authority to avoid anarchy was Thomas Hobbes. Hobbes's influential work, Leviathan, argued that in the 'state of nature' life would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short. To escape this, people should enter into a social contract, agreeing to give up some freedoms and submit to the authority of a ruler, or a sovereign, who would impose order and prevent the state of nature. Hobbes's ideas justify the need for a strong, central authority to ensure peace and prevent civil disorder or anarchy.