Thomas Hobbes's notion of political obligation is rooted in his pessimistic view of human nature and the state of nature. He famously argued that in the absence of a strong governing authority, humanity exists in a 'state of war of all against all,' where life is 'solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.' In this anarchic state, individuals possess a natural right to everything, leading to constant conflict and insecurity.

To escape this perilous condition, rational individuals enter into a social contract, voluntarily surrendering some of their natural rights to a sovereign power in exchange for peace, order, and security. This sovereign, whether a monarch or an assembly, must possess absolute authority to enforce laws and prevent a return to the state of nature. Political obligation, for Hobbes, thus arises from this fundamental need for self-preservation. Citizens are obligated to obey the sovereign's laws because doing so ensures their safety and prevents chaos. Disobedience is justified only if the sovereign fails to provide security or directly threatens the lives of its subjects, as the primary purpose of the contract is self-preservation. However, Hobbes generally argued for almost unconditional obedience, as any challenge to the sovereign's authority risked plunging society back into the dreaded state of nature.