Echoes in the Leviathan

Abstract

The present research explores the dynamics between pow- er, truth, and identity in the context of contemporary society. Taking Thomas Hobbes’ text Leviathan as a starting point, it first examines the original composition of the contractualist State and contrasts it with the evolution society has under- gone in the face of the amplification of information through digital media. This has created a paradigm for the State: adapt to the prevailing dynamics or be abolished. The con- cept of the voices of the Leviathan is introduced, representing power through multiple discourses that resonate in different directions, with different meanings and purposes in today’s society. The ideas stemming from these discourses have, on one hand, replaced traditional rituals and symbols as a form of identity, and on the other, they exert subtle control over the population by manipulating individuals’ identities through the conditioning of their biases in novel discourses. This is primarily facilitated by the ease of digital media in collecting data, which is the first exercise of power by the voices of the Leviathan – gathering information to persuade. Secondly, the subtle use of discourses aligned with a weak idiosyncrasy progressively mobilizes individuals in a particular direction. Power, therefore, is no longer the State but the ability to ma- nipulate individuals characterized by an ontological void.