Hobbism

American  

[hob-iz-uhm] / ˈhɒb ɪz əm /

noun

1. the doctrines of, or those attributed to, Hobbes, especially the doctrine of absolute submission to a royal sovereign in order to avoid the anarchic disorder resulting from the uncontrolled competition of individual interests.

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Hobbism British  

/ ˈhɒbɪzəm /

noun

1. the mechanistic political philosophy of Thomas Hobbes, which stresses the necessity for a powerful sovereign to control human beings

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Other Word Forms

• Hobbist noun
• Hobbistical adjective

Etymology

Origin of Hobbism

First recorded in 1675–85; Hobb(es) + -ism

Example Sentences

Trenchard and Gordon, in their Independent Whig, No. 44, that libel on the clergy, accuse them of Atheism and Hobbism; while some divines as earnestly reject Hobbes as an Atheist!

From Calamities and Quarrels of Authors by Disraeli, Isaac

After the restoration, the reaction was the other way, and Hobbism became the fashion.

From Among My Books First Series by Lowell, James Russell

Though the Restoration brought Hobbes a pension his two great works were condemned by Parliament, and Hobbism became ere he died a popular synonym for political as well as religious immorality.

From History of the English People, Volume VI Puritan England, 1642-1660; The Revolution, 1660-1683 by Green, John Richard

He seems to have passed his life in dawdling suspense between Hobbism and Popery.

From Critical and Historical Essays — Volume 1 by Macaulay, Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron

As against this fashionable Hobbism, Parker pleads Conscience.

From Andrew Marvell by Morley, John