'The Leviethan'

The political treatise of Thomas Hobbes published in 1651. In this work Hobbes assumes that Psychological Egoism is true and builds a political theory around this premise. If humans are Egoists and always seek their own benefit we need some universally recognized power to insure social tranquility. It should always be remembered that The Leviethan was written against the backdrop of the English Civil Wars which explains Hobbes' pessimistic view of human nature.