Leviathan
Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30
CORE DEFINITION
Refers to a state or sovereign with absolute power. Hobbes believed that in order to escape the brutal state of nature, individuals must cede their rights to this great beast (Leviathan) in exchange for order and security.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
A metaphor for the cost of order. Any powerful organization or technological platform (such as Facebook, WeChat) is essentially a Leviathan. It provides convenience and order at the cost of devouring individual privacy and freedom. This is an inescapable contract in modern society.
Anchor fast decisions
Hobbes's Leviathan (1651). In the state of nature, everyone is at war with everyone; individuals cede rights to an absolute sovereign in exchange for order and security. The mechanism is the "sovereignty contract"—exchanging freedom/privacy for order; powerful organizations/platforms are modern Leviathans.
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/5Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leviathanverified
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