In the midst of the bloodshed of the English Civil War, Thomas Hobbes realizes the chaotic state of humanity, which gravitates towards the greater evil. Hobbes's basic premises about human nature – equality, selfishness and competition – result in a universal war between men in their natural state. To escape anarchy, Hobbes makes use of absolute sovereignty. People voluntarily enter into a social contract with each other, surrendering their rights to the sovereign. For Hobbes, only the omnipotent ruler or “Leviathan” will guarantee the safety and security of humanity. The following essay will examine, first, Hobbes's pessimistic premises about human nature (equality, egotism, and competition), in contrast to John Locke's charitable views of humanity; second, determine whether Hobbes's resulting state of nature (total war) necessarily follows from his premises; third, discuss whether Hobbes' absolute sovereignty sufficiently preserves humanity in light of Locke's separation of powers; and, ultimately, determine the validity and soundness of Hobbes's political theory. Hobbes structures his “Leviathan” starting from fundamental assumptions about the state of humanity. First, Hobbes believes, “Nature hath made men equal in faculties of body and mind” (Hobbes 74). Fundamentally all men are the same. Even physically weaker men can plot or conspire with others to defeat the stronger ones, thus equalizing physical capabilities. Mental ability depends on experience, and as men mature they acquire knowledge, thus equaling intellectual faculties. Therefore all equal men must share the same desires. All men seek to achieve pleasures and try to avoid dangers, so desire motivates their actions. Hobbes's second premise says: “All the voluntary actions of m... half the paper... of his political theory. Therefore, Hobbes cannot create peace and harmony in a society under a “Leviathan”. Furthermore, Locke shows alternative paths in the premises of human nature, thus depriving the validity of Hobbes' argument. On the one hand, Hobbes' theory is valid and makes deductive sense. Hobbes reasons logically starting from the premises of human nature – equal, selfish and competitive – up to the resulting universal war. However, his controversial solution of escaping the state of nature in the form of an absolute ruler, combined with Locke's advocacy of an optimistic view of humanity, create dubious impressions of the solidity of “Leviathan.” However, Hobbes' creation of a social contract will undoubtedly influence many modern political philosophers. Works Cited Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan, edited by Edwin Curley. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. 1994.