From a political philosophy standpoint, the Gaddafi era presents a classic Hobbesian dilemma. Hobbes argued that a harsh sovereign is preferable to the chaos of a state of nature. Supporters of this view point to the relative safety, high literacy, and oil-funded welfare systems Libyans experienced under his rule. However, critics argue that security bought at the price of human rights and systemic terror is a false peace, rendering the regime deeply illegitimate.