Abstract: Thomas Hobbes,the modern mechanical materialist,viewed word symbols as the basis of thinking,showed the geometric definitions of words were the beginning of human ratiocination,and indicated in essence ratiocination was calculation,namely,it was the addition and subtraction of words.On this basis,he further revealed the similar relationship between man and machinery,explained man as the automatic device controlled by mechanical movement and related to language.And he emphasized that we can elucidate the causal relationship of things and get the results that are good for ourselves by the light of reason,that is,philosophical knowledge.Along the way,it is not difficult to find that Hobbes' philosophy is intended to give an abstract description of ratiocination.In a sense,it is the ideological origin ofsymbolic artificial intelligence.

Key words: Hobbes, symbolic artificial intelligence, language, rational calculation, “Physical Symbol System Hypothesis”