Tomas Gobbs

Thomas Hobbes was an English materialist philosopher and the author of the theory of the social contract.

He was born in Gloucestershire, into the family of a parish priest who was not highly educated and had a hot temper; after an argument with a neighboring vicar at the church doors, he lost his post. He was raised by a wealthy uncle. He knew classical literature and classical languages well. At the age of fifteen, he entered Oxford University, which he graduated from in 1608.

In 1610 he became tutor to Lord Hardwicke of the aristocratic family of William Cavendish (later Earl of Devonshire). He remained connected with his pupil until the end of his life, and the latter became his patron. Through him he met Ben Jonson, Francis Bacon, Herbert Charbery, and other prominent figures. After the death of the Earl of Devonshire, he became tutor to his son, traveled with him to Italy (where in 1636 he visited Galileo Galilei), and in 1637 returned to England.

The formation of Hobbes’s views was significantly influenced by F. Bacon, G. Galileo, P. Gassendi, R. Descartes, and J. Kepler.