A Comparative Study of the Origin of Sovereignty from the Perspective of Mohammad Hossein Tabataba'i and Thomas Hobbes

Document Type : Research Article / Original Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Law, Faculty of Social Sciences and Economics, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran.

2 MA in Public Law, Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

The endeavor to ascertain the cause and origin of sovereignty is among the issues that have engaged political philosophers. Mohammad Hossein Tabataba’i and Thomas Hobbes offer similar interpretations of humanity and social life, and the origin of sovereignty is derived from their theories. In this research, employing an exploratory-descriptive methodology, the question of "What is the origin of sovereignty from the perspectives of Mohammad Hossein Tabataba’i and Hobbes?" has been investigated. The research findings indicate that Hobbes, emphasizing the natural and equal rights of humans, seeks to formulate a theory concerning right, power, and the connection between right and power. He locates the origin in the social contract and the necessity of absolute security. The Hobbesian human is one devoid of social bonds, dominated by instinctive and irrational forces, existing in a savage state (state of nature) from which there is no escape except through a conditional social contract in favor of a third party (the Sovereign), entailing the surrender of all rights and authorities. From Tabataba’i’s perspective, humans are inevitably bound to social life, which is founded upon a practical contract—namely, the contract of mutual employment and social justice. In his view, early humans were under the influence of natural forces, and the dominion of these natural forces encompassed even reason. However, through social progression, reason attains perfection, is reinforced by revelation and prophethood, and comes to govern the natural forces. The findings reveal that the fundamental difference in the anthropology and legal philosophy of these two thinkers leads to two distinct analyses of politics and government. The results of this research can contribute to the development of a comparative understanding of Islamic and Western political philosophy.

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References

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Social Theories of Muslim Thinkers
Volume 15, Issue 3
September 2025
Pages 116-130

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History

  • Receive Date: 20 July 2024
  • Revise Date: 19 August 2025
  • Accept Date: 07 September 2025
  • Publish Date: 23 September 2025

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