FORMATION OF THE CONCEPT OF “RATIONAL” FEAR IN THE ERA OF MODERNITY

This paper outlines the phenomenon of “rational” fear arising in the modern era. The author relies on the work of Thomas Hobbes, as the creator of the concept of “rational” fear. The author makes an attempt to submit the concept of “rational” fear as the basis of the political philosophy of the English thinker. The author demonstrates how Hobbes reinterprets the traditional notion of fear and formulates his own original concept of “rational” fear, the appearance of which became possible only in the era of mo-dernity. Breaking with the “tradition”, Hobbes formulates his definition of “fear” in a mechanical way. The English philosopher turns out to be the creator of the “new political science”, in which foundation he lays the concept of “rational” fear. In the analysis of the “Leviathan” frontispiece, special attention is paid to the visual strategies of the English philosopher and to the idea of the Leviathan as a mythical monster. The author examines some problem areas of the concept of “rational” fear and possible ways to overcome it.