# Self-Interest and Social Order in Classical Liberalism: Thomas Hobbes

**URL:** <https://www.libertarianism.org/podcasts/excursions/self-interest-and-social-order-in-classical-liberalism-thomas-hobbes>

**By** George H. Smith

**Published:** June 7, 2017

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George H. Smith discusses the Hobbesian theory of self-interest and why classical liberals were so intent on refuting it.

[Originally published in essay form on November 21, 2014.](https://www.libertarianism.org/columns/self-interest-social-order-classical-liberalism-thomas-hobbes)

_Narrated by Daniel Hyland._