Homo homini lupus, or in its unabridged form Homo homini lupus est, is a Latin proverb meaning literally 'man is a wolf to man'. It is used to refer to situations where a person has behaved comparably to a wolf. In this case, the wolf represents predatory, cruel, and generally inhuman qualities.
Usually the phrase “ homo homini lupus ” is attributed to the English philosopher Thomas Hobbes (1588 – 1679), author among other works of Leviathan, essential work on the development of political philosophy in the modern age and of liberal thought.
Homo homini lupus, man is a wolf to man, remains one of the most well-known and often quoted dictums in the tradition of political theory.
The Latin phrase homo homini lupus — “man is a wolf to man” — has traveled a long and rather cynical road through intellectual history.
The phrase 'homo homini lupus' translates to 'man is a wolf to man', suggesting that humans can be predatory and harmful towards each other. This expression highlights a darker view of human nature, implying that individuals can act with selfishness and aggression similar to the animalistic behaviors seen in wolves.
in contract theory, ideas about humans’ natural inclination to political life are in flux. By tracing the discursive life of “homo homini lupus,” this article illuminates how Webster draws on these debates and presents a radically different vision of human politics both from that of the preceding century and from the ones that will come to defi...
Homo Homini Lupus: Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi and the ... - JSTOR
Homo homini lupus, a Latin phrase translating to "man is a wolf to man," encapsulates the notion of inherent human predation and aggression toward fellow humans, particularly in the absence of constraining authority.