50+ MCQs on Thomas Hobbes with Answers for UGC NET / SET Prepration

1. In which century did Thomas Hobbes live?
a. 15th century
b. 16th century
c. 17th century
d. 18th century

2. Hobbes is best known for his work in which field?
a. Political philosophy
b. Metaphysics
c. Ethics
d. Aesthetics

3. Hobbes’s famous work “Leviathan” was published in:
a. 1642
b. 1651
c. 1660
d. 1675

4. According to Hobbes, what is the fundamental human motivation?
a. Love
b. Fear
c. Reason
d. Altruism

5. In Hobbes’s state of nature, individuals are motivated by:
a. Cooperation
b. Competition and self-interest
c. Empathy
d. Mutual aid

6. According to Hobbes, what is the social contract?
a. A formal legal agreement
b. A mutual promise among individuals to create a sovereign authority
c. A religious covenant
d. An economic treaty

7. Hobbes argued that life in the state of nature is:
a. Brutish, nasty, and short
b. Peaceful and harmonious
c. Governed by reason and morality
d. Utopian

8. Hobbes’s concept of the “Leviathan” refers to:
a. A mythical sea monster
b. The sovereign authority that maintains order
c. An ideal societyMCQs on Thomas Hobbes
d. A religious figure

9. According to Hobbes, what is the role of the sovereign in society?
a. To enforce religious morality
b. To protect individual natural rights
c. To maintain order and prevent chaosMCQs on Thomas Hobbes
d. To distribute wealth equally

10. Hobbes believed that the sovereign’s authority is derived from:
a. Divine right
b. The consent of the governed
c. An agreement among individuals
d. The power of tradition

11. Hobbes’s political philosophy is often associated with:
a. Liberalism
b. Conservatism
c. Anarchism
d. Authoritarianism

12. What term did Hobbes use to describe the condition where individuals willingly give up some rights in exchange for security?
a. Social contract
b. Natural lawMCQs on Thomas Hobbes
c. Sovereignty
d. Absolute monarchy

13. According to Hobbes, what is the main reason for individuals to form a commonwealth?
a. To achieve economic prosperityMCQs on Thomas Hobbes
b. To protect their natural rights
c. To establish religious freedom
d. To pursue intellectual pursuits

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14. Hobbes’s view on religious authority is characterized by:
a. Support for religious pluralism
b. A rejection of religious authority in political matters
c. An insistence on a single state religion
d. Emphasis on the separation of church and state

15. Hobbes’s political theory is often considered a reaction to:
a. The Renaissance
b. The Enlightenment
c. The Protestant Reformation
d. The Scientific Revolution

16. What did Hobbes consider the primary cause of conflict in the state of nature?
a. Lack of resources
b. Competition for power and resources
c. Religious differences
d. Lack of education

17. Hobbes’s notion of the “social contract” was influential in shaping the ideas of later political philosophers such as:
a. John Locke
b. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
c. Immanuel Kant
d. Karl Marx

18. According to Hobbes, what is the source of moral principles?
a. Divine revelation
b. Natural law
c. Reason and empathy
d. Social customs and traditions

19. Hobbes’s political philosophy is often described as:
a. Individualistic
b. Collectivist
c. Egalitarian
d. Anarchistic

20. In Hobbes’s view, what is the purpose of government?
a. To protect natural rights
b. To promote economic equality
c. To secure social justice
d. To prevent chaos and ensure order

21. What did Hobbes believe about the nature of human equality in the state of nature?
a. All individuals are born with equal rights
b. Equality is an artificial construct imposed by society
c. Natural inequality is the foundation of social order
d. Equality is an unattainable ideal

22. Hobbes argued that individuals in the state of nature would be in a constant state of:
a. Cooperation
b. War and conflict
c. Mutual respect
d. Democratic deliberation

23. According to Hobbes, what is the role of laws in society?
a. To reflect divine will
b. To enforce social contracts
c. To express the general will of the peopleMCQs on Thomas Hobbes
d. To protect individual autonomy

24. Hobbes’s idea of the “state of nature” is a thought experiment used to:
a. Demonstrate the natural goodness of humanity
b. Illustrate the need for religious authority
c. Analyze the origins of political authorityMCQs on Thomas Hobbes
d. Justify absolute monarchy

25. Hobbes’s political philosophy had a significant impact on the development of:
a. Democratic ideals
b. Absolutist monarchy
c. Socialism
d. Religious freedom

26. In Hobbes’s view, what is the ultimate source of political authority?
a. Divine right
b. The will of the people
c. The power of tradition
d. The sovereign’s control over force

27. Hobbes’s ideas on human nature and the role of government were influenced by:
a. Classical Greek philosophy
b. Renaissance humanism
c. Medieval scholasticism
d. Enlightenment rationalism

28. According to Hobbes, what is the purpose of establishing a commonwealth?
a. To achieve economic prosperity
b. To secure natural rights
c. To create a utopian society
d. To fulfill religious duties

29. Hobbes’s political philosophy is often described as:
a. Optimistic about human nature
b. Pessimistic about human nature
c. Neutral about human nature
d. Idealistic about human nature

30. What term did Hobbes use to describe the condition in which individuals have a right to everything in the state of nature?
a. Social contract
b. War of all against all
c. Natural law
d. Commonwealth

31. Hobbes argued that the sovereign’s authority should be:
a. Limited by the consent of the governed
b. Absolute and unquestionable
c. Subject to periodic elections
d. Shared among various branches of governmentMCQs on Thomas Hobbes

32. According to Hobbes, what is the role of fear in the establishment of political authority?
a. Fear leads to anarchy
b. Fear motivates individuals

to form a commonwealthMCQs on Thomas Hobbes
c. Fear is irrelevant in political matters
d. Fear undermines the legitimacy of government

33. Hobbes’s ideas on the role of government influenced the development of:
a. Classical liberalism
b. Social contract theory
c. Democratic socialismMCQs on Thomas Hobbes
d. Anarchism

34. In Hobbes’s view, what is the consequence of individuals violating the social contract?
a. Excommunication from the community
b. Loss of natural rights
c. The dissolution of the commonwealth
d. Banishment from the state

35. Hobbes believed that the sovereign’s power should be:
a. Checked by the judiciary
b. Based on divine right
c. Absolute and undivided
d. Limited by the consent of the people

36. According to Hobbes, how should the sovereign respond to individuals who rebel against the government?
a. Grant them asylum
b. Engage in diplomatic negotiations
c. Suppress rebellion with force
d. Offer them positions in the government

37. Hobbes’s political philosophy is often associated with the concept of:
a. Limited government
b. Divine right of kings
c. Separation of powers
d. Absolute monarchy

38. Hobbes’s view on the role of reason in politics is characterized by:
a. Optimism about human rationality
b. Pessimism about human rationality
c. Neutrality about human rationality
d. Faith in divine reason

39. According to Hobbes, what is the role of the sovereign in ensuring peace?
a. By promoting religious tolerance
b. By establishing a system of checks and balances
c. By maintaining a powerful military
d. By encouraging democratic participation

40. Hobbes’s political philosophy has been criticized for:
a. Overemphasis on individual rights
b. Ignoring the importance of religion
c. Neglecting the role of civil society
d. Authoritarian implications

41. Hobbes’s theory of human nature is often summarized by the phrase:
a. “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”
b. “Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness”MCQs on Thomas Hobbes
c. “Nasty, Brutish, and Short”
d. “Reason, Virtue, Social Harmony”

42. Hobbes’s views on human nature contrast with the optimistic views of which Enlightenment philosopher?
a. John Locke
b. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
c. Montesquieu
d. Voltaire

43. According to Hobbes, why do individuals submit to the authority of the sovereign?
a. Due to a desire for equality
b. Out of fear of violent death in the state of nature
c. To achieve economic prosperity
d. To fulfill religious obligations

44. Hobbes’s theory of the social contract influenced the development of:
a. Democratic republics
b. Absolutist monarchies
c. Communist states
d. Anarchist societies

45. Hobbes’s ideas on the nature of government were shaped by his observations of:
a. Ancient Greek city-states
b. The Renaissance courts
c. The English Civil War
d. The American Revolution

46. According to Hobbes, what is the foundation of justice in society?
a. Divine law
b. Human reason
c. Social contract
d. Natural rights

47. Hobbes’s political philosophy is often criticized for:
a. Ignoring the role of religion
b. Justifying absolute tyranny
c. Promoting radical egalitarianism
d. Advocating for anarchism

48. Hobbes’s view on the relationship between church and state is characterized by:
a. Support for religious pluralism
b. A call for theocracy
c. A separation of church and state
d. An emphasis on the authority of the Pope

49. According to Hobbes, what is the primary motivation for individuals to enter into the social contract?
a. Altruism
b. Fear of violent death
c. Desire for political power
d. Pursuit of economic prosperity

50. Hobbes’s political philosophy has been influential in shaping discussions about:
a. Economic inequality
b. Democracy and human rights
c. Separation of powers
d. International relations

Answer

1. c. 17th century
2. a. Political philosophy
3. b. 1651
4. b. Fear
5. b. Competition and self-interest
6. b. A mutual promise among individuals to create a sovereign authority
7. a. Brutish, nasty, and short
8. b. The sovereign authority that maintains orderMCQs on Thomas Hobbes
9. c. To maintain order and prevent chaos
10. b. The consent of the governedMCQs on Thomas Hobbes
11. a. Liberalism
12. a. Social contractMCQs on Thomas Hobbes
13. b. To protect their natural rights
14. c. A rejection of religious authority in political matters
15. c. The Protestant Reformation
16. b. Competition for power and resources
17. a. John Locke
18. d. Social customs and traditionsMCQs on Thomas Hobbes
19. b. Collectivist
20. d. To prevent chaos and ensure order
21. c. Natural inequality is the foundation of social order
22. b. War and conflict
23. b. To enforce social contracts
24. c. Analyze the origins of political authority
25. b. Absolutist monarchy
26. d. The sovereign’s control over force
27. b. Renaissance humanism
28. b. To secure natural rights
29. b. Pessimistic about human nature
30. b. War of all against all
31. b. Absolute and unquestionable
32. b. Fear motivates individuals to form a commonwealth
33. b. Social contract theory
34. c. The dissolution of the commonwealth
35. c. Absolute and undivided
36. c. Suppress rebellion with force
37. d. Absolute monarchy
38. b. Pessimism about human rationality
39. c. By maintaining a powerful military
40. d. Authoritarian implications
41. c. “Nasty, Brutish, and Short”
42. b. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
43. b. Out of fear of violent death in the state of nature
44. b. Absolutist monarchies
45. c. The English Civil War
46. c. Social contract
47. b. Justifying absolute tyranny
48. c. A separation of church and state
49. b. Fear of violent death
50. b. Democracy and human rights