ABSTRACT
Born prematurely when his mother heard of the approach of the Spanish Armada, Thomas Hobbes often quipped that he was born “a twin with fear.” Hobbes saw much to fear in his long life. He observed a civil war, the execution of Charles I, and periods of great political and social upheaval. On more than one occasion, he was forced to flee England, and he often feared for his life. It is not surprising, then, that he developed a political philosophy emphasizing fear of death and the need for security.
