Judd Owen, assistant professor of political science at Emory University, attempts to defend the liberal interpretation of Hobbes's political philosophy by demonstrating his promotion of a "liberal policy of toleration" (p. . 133). Owen begins by asking the following question: “How can Hobbes's political philosophy be directed at a tolerant regime and at the same time be hostile to the granting of unconditional freedom or rights?” (p. 134). Indeed, those who enter a community through the social contract lose almost all the rights and freedoms they possessed in the state of nature (except the right to self-defense). However, Owen proceeds to explain how the aim of Hobbes's civil society is not the alienation of individual liberties (although individual rights are in fact alienated). Rather, this forfeiture of rights is merely a means by which to ensure the maximum amount of freedom that the individual can actually enjoy. In other words, human beings possess unlimited freedom rights in the state of nature, but are neither free enough nor safe enough to enjoy them without the constant threat of violence or death. Therefore, individuals agree to engage in civil society because it is the only condition in which they can enjoy a minimum of freedom and true freedom of will. Although a state's subjects must renounce their claims to absolute freedom, sovereign authority and civil law allow for great individual tolerance. For example,