Thomas Hobbes: Man is Selfish

Thomas Hobbes, the influential philosopher, famously declared, "Man by nature is selfish." But

what did he truly mean by this powerful statement, and how does it manifest in

human behavior? Hobbes argued that our fundamental drive is self-preservation. Every action,

every thought, he believed, ultimately serves our own survival and desires.

It's not necessarily evil, but inherently self-centered. In his "state of nature," without

governing laws, humanity would exist in constant conflict. Driven by self-interest, individuals would perpetually

compete for scarce resources. This self-interest also breeds diffidence, or distrust.

Knowing others are driven by their own needs, we constantly fear attack or exploitation,