Which statement best characterizes the ideas of Thomas Hobbes? People are naturally reasonable. People are naturally selfish and violent. Governments create unequal societies. Government should be separate from religion.

## Step 1<br />The question asks us to identify the statement that best characterizes the ideas of Thomas Hobbes. Thomas Hobbes was a 17th-century English philosopher known for his political ideas, particularly those outlined in his book "Leviathan". <br /><br />## Step 2<br />Hobbes's philosophy is based on the concept of the "social contract". He believed that in the state of nature, humans are naturally selfish and violent. This is because, according to Hobbes, without a strong central authority to enforce rules and maintain order, people would act out of self-interest and potentially harm each other.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />Hobbes also argued that people enter into a social contract, giving up some of their freedoms in exchange for the protection and order provided by a sovereign authority. This sovereign authority, according to Hobbes, should have absolute power to prevent the chaos of the state of nature.<br /><br />## Step 4<br />Given these ideas, the statement that best characterizes Hobbes's philosophy is that "People are naturally selfish and violent". This statement aligns with Hobbes's view of human nature and the need for a strong central authority to maintain order and prevent chaos.