THE IDEA OF LEADERSHIP IN THOMAS HOBBES POLTICAL THOUGHTS
ABSTRACT
    This work studies the discourse of political philosophy of Thomas Hobbes who committed Himself to the task of tracing the origin of the state. As a political entity in 1651 in his book titled ‘Leviathan’ This  was necessitated by the fact in the 17th century; Europe experience a great political problem.
    Thomas Hobbes aim to re-introduce peace, orderliness and stability in the once disordered, ore disorganized political society. The emergence of the State traced through the social contract by Thomas Hobbes, was the voluntary agreement of all individual to surrender their rights and power themselves to one man or assembly of Men who can represent then and bear their burden. This man or assembly of men, he calls ‘Leviathan’ who every man gave up their rights and powers so that he would keep them in awe and give them security.
At this juncture, the questions now is, can the evil of the absolute authority or power be preferred to the evils of life in the society that does not contain such am authority or power? Can the authority or power left to an individuals disposal, promote peace? These are the questions the essay tactless.  
TABLES OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL INTRODUCTION
0.1    The Background of the Study               
0.2    The Statement of the Problem               
0.3    The Aims and Objectives of the Study           
0.4    The Scope and Limitation of the Study           
0.5    Methodology       
    Notes and References                    
CHAPTER TWO: SOME PHILOSOPHER’S POLITICAL IDEAS
            ON LEADERSHIP BEFORE THOMAS HOBBES
2.0    Introduction                           
2.1     Plato                                
2.2    Thomas Aquinas                        
2.3    Niccolo Machiavelli                    
2.4    Conclusion                            
Notes and References                   
CHAPTER THREE: THE IDEA OF LEADERSHIP IN THOMAS
              HOBBES POLITICAL THOUGHT
3.0    Introduction                            
3.1    Historical Background of Thomas Hobbes           
3.2    The State of Nature                       
3.3    The Social Contract                       
3.4    The Sovereign and Commonwealth           
3.5    Thomas Hobbes Concept of Leadership           
3.6    Conclusion                           
Notes and References                       
CHAPTER FOUR: SUMMARY/EVALUATION
4.1    Summary of the Main Points/Findings           
4.2    Evaluation                           
Notes and References                       
General Conclusion                       
Bibliography   
CHAPTER ONE : GENERAL INTRODUCTION
0.1    THE BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Human society or organization cannot exist orderly without one form of leadership or another. Therefore, leadership becomes an indispensable factor of the human society or an organization. Leadership or government is instituted for the sole purpose on of maintaining peace, orderliness stability and to prevent chaos and anarchy in the society or political entity. In the discourse of political philosophy, Thomas Hobbes committed himself to the task of tracing the origin of the state as a political entity in 1651 in his book titled ‘Leviathan’. This was necessitated by the fact in the 17th century; Europe experienced a great political problem.
The book mentioned above, contained his social contract theory which was set out to trace the origin of the state. Thomas Hobbes’ aim was to re-introduce peace, orderliness and stability in the once disordered, ore disorganized political society. The emergence of the state traced through the social contract by Thomas Hobbes, was the voluntary agreement of all individuals to surrender their rights and powers themselves to one man or assembly of men who can represent them and bear their burden. This man or assembly of men, he calls ‘leviathan’ who every man gave up their rights and powers so that he would keep them in awe and give them security.
Thomas Hobbes subscribed to absolute authority for the leviathan or those in the helm of affairs. And according to him, a sovereign without such an authority or power is no sovereign at all. For Hobbes the sovereign can do whatever he likes with absolute authority or power, he is above the law he says, the chaos of the absolute power in the society is preferred to that of a society in which there is no absolute power. At this juncture, the question now is, can the evils of the absolute authority or power be preferred to the evils of life in the society that does not contain such an authority or power? Can the authority or power left to an individual’s disposal, promote peace?
0.2    THE STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Historically, the world exhibits peculiar and different qualities of leadership. Leadership experience have been of both good and bad due to the nature of mankind. And according to Aristotle, ‘man is a political animal.1 this means that in every society there must be a leader, a person or group of persons who directs the affairs of the society towar1ds its goal. Hence, Thomas Hobbes argues that the most dangerous place for man to live in is a chaotic society where there is no leader. That is, no authority of the civil law, etc and the behavior of ‘man’ is ruled by inner impulses. This state, he calls the state of nature. In such society, man’s life is not secure because man by nature is self and egoistic and so, the life of man in such society is nasty, brutish, short and poor. for survival of the fittest, man is against man and by this man’s life is not safe. The question now is, what type of leadership is suitable for such society that will best maintain peace and orderliness?
0.3    THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
Generally speaking the essence of any government is to make law, so as to enhance the smooth running of the state. Any government therefore, that does not care for the peaceful co-existence of its citizens is an ill- functioning government. The essence of government is to maintain peace, stability and smooth running of the state. Just like Paul G. Elberecht would say; for a government to be truly good, its energy must be directed towards the maintenance of peace, it must also work to suppress inequality and the misuse of power, and it must strive diligently for the maintenance of adequate temporal care for every citizen”2.it is on this note that the aim of this easy or study is to see whether a chaotic society, if hobbies idea of 2leadership  (absolute authority) is enforced to cub a chaotic situation in order to achieve peace and stability is the best form  of government.
0.4    THE SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
    This essay shall concern itself only with the exposition and evaluation of the idea of leadership in Hobbes political thought. And also examine some philosophers’ idea on leadership before Thomas  Hobbes.
0.5    METHODOLOGY
    This research work shall employ a critical and analytic method in looking at the idea of leadership in Thomas Hobbes political thought. Chapter one shall deal with the general concept of leadership. That is, the meaning of leadership, types of leadership, characteristics of leadership and purpose of leadership. Chapter two shall explore the idea of leadership in some philosophers before Thomas Hobbes. Precisely Plato of the ancient era, Thomas, Aquinas of the middle era also known as middle age, and Nicolo Michiavelli of the modern era. Chapter three shall critically look at the idea of leadership in Hobbes stating from the state of nature which ariseth social contract and commonwealth that lead to the emergence of the society or state and by this Hobbes posited that absolute authority or power should rule the society or the state that emerged from the social contract and commonwealth as his idea of leadership. Chapter four which is the last chapter of this discourse shall give an evaluation on the idea of leadership in Thomas Hobbes political thought. And there follows immediately conclusion.
 End Notes
1.    Olatunji Oyeshile, A compendium of philosophy and political quotation, (Ibadan: Hope Publication 2001), p.556.
 2.     Paul g. Elbrecht, the Christian encounters politics and government, (London: Concordia pub. 1965), p.32.