Leviathan

by Thomas Hobbes, C. B. MacPherson (Introduction)

Overview

Leviathan or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil-commonly referred to as Leviathan-is a book written by Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) and published in 1651. Its name derives from the biblical Leviathan. The work concerns the structure of society and legitimate government, and is regarded as one of the earliest and most influential examples of social contract theory. Leviathan ranks as a classic western work on statecraft comparable to Machiavelli's The Prince. Written during the English Civil War (1642-1651), Leviathan argues for a social contract and rule by an absolute sovereign. Hobbes wrote that civil war and the brute situation of a state of nature ("the war of all against all") could only be avoided by strong undivided government.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780140431957
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	02/28/1982
Series:	Penguin Classics Series
Pages:	736
Product dimensions:	5.09(w) x 7.76(h) x 1.26(d)
Lexile:	1270L (what's this?)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Philosopher, scientist, and historian Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) was a key figure in Britain's transition from medieval to modern thinking. His masterpiece, Leviathan, established the social contract theory that served as the foundation for most of Western political philosophy, and his view of mankind as essentially self-centered and competitive gave rise to the term "Hobbesian."

Table of Contents

The Contents of the Chapters
 
THE FIRST PART: Of Man
Introduction
Of Sense
Of Imagination
Of the Consequence or Train of Imaginations
Of Speech
Of Reason and Science
Of the interiour Beginnings of Voluntary Motions, commonly called the Passions; And the Speeches by which they are expressed
Of the Ends or Resolutions of Discourse
Of the Vertues, commonly called Intellectuall, and their contrary Defects
Of the severall Subjects of Knowledge
Of Power, Worth, Dignity, Honour, and Worthinesse
Of the Difference of Manners
Of Religion
Of the Naturall Condition of Mankind as concerning their Felicity and Misery
Of the first and second Naturall Lawes, and of Contract
Of other Lawes of Nature
Of Persons, Authors, and things personated
THE SECOND PART: Of Common-wealth
Of the Causes, Generation, and Definition of a Common-wealth
Of the Rights of Soveraignes by Institution
Of severall Kinds of Common-wealth by Institution; and of Succesion to the Soveraign Power
Of Dominion Paternall, and Despoticall
Of the Liberty of Subjects
Of Systemes Subject, Politicall, and Private
Of the Publique Ministers of Soveraign Power
Of the Nutrition, and Procreation of a Common-wealth
Of Counsell
Of Civill Lawes
Of Crimes, Excuses, and Extenuations
Of Punishments, and Rewards
Of those things that Weaken, or tend to the Dissolution of a Common-wealth
Of the Office of the Soveraign Representative
Of the Kingdome of God by Nature
THE THIRD PART: Of A Christian Common-wealth
Of the Principles of Christian Politiques
Of the Number, Antiquity, Scope, Authority, and Interpreters of the Books of Holy Scripture
Of the signification, of Spirit, Angell, and Inspiration in the Books of Holy Scripture
Of the signification in Scripture of the Kingdome of God, of Holy, Sacred, and Sacrament
Of the Word of God, and of Prophets
Of Miracles, and their use
Of the signification in Scripture of Eternall life, Hel, Salvation, the World to come, and Redemption
Of the Signification in Scripture of the word Church
Of the Rights of the Kingdome of God, in Abraham, Moses, the High Priests, and the Kings of Judah
Of the Office of our Blessed Saviour
Of Power Ecclesiasticall
Of what is Necessary for mans Reception into the Kingdome of Heaven
THE FOURTH PART: Of The Kingdome of Darknesse
Of Spirituall Darknesse from Misinterpretation of Scripture
Of Dæmonology, and other Reliques of the Religion of the Gentiles
Of Darknesse from Vain Philosophy, and Fabulous Traditions
Of the Benefit proceeding from such Darknesse; and to whom it accreweth
A REVIEW AND CONCLUSION

Editorial Reviews

Internationally renowned Hobbes scholar A.P. Martinich has produced the definitive version of Leviathan for student use. Handsomely turned out by Broadview Press, this edition features a highly informative introduction, a brief chronology of Hobbes’s life, as well as some useful notes on the text itself. Of special value are seven appendices drawn from the writings of contemporary critics of Hobbes’s thought, including Filmer, Lawson, Bramhall, Hyde and others. Martinich has made a difficult but essential text as accessible to students as it is likely ever to become.” — George Wright, University of Wisconsin

“An admirably accessible edition of Hobbes’s masterpiece. The work is presented clearly, in its entirety, and with generous excerpts from Hobbes's formidable contemporary critics.” — Kinch Hoekstra, Balliol College, Oxford University

“This very readable edition of Hobbes’s Leviathan is an excellent resource for students of political philosophy and its history. The collection of published responses to Leviathan by some of Hobbes’s most prominent contemporaries provides insight into the historical context in which he was writing, and philosophically challenging commentary on this great work of political philosophy.” — Thomas Christiano, University of Arizona

From the Publisher

"This very readable edition of Hobbes's Leviathan is an excellent resource for students of political philosophy and its history. The collection of published responses to Leviathan by some of Hobbes's most prominent contemporaries provides insight into the historical context in which he was writing, and philosophically challenging commentary on this great work of political philosophy."

Thomas Christiano University of Arizona

"An admirably accessible edition of Hobbes's masterpiece. The work is presented clearly, in its entirety, and with generous excerpts from Hobbes's formidable contemporary critics."

Kinch Hoekstra Balliol College

"Internationally renowned Hobbes scholar A.P. Martinich has produced the definitive version of Leviathan for student use. Handsomely turned out by Broadview Press, this edition features a highly informative introduction, a brief chronology of Hobbes's life, as well as some useful notes on the text itself. Of special value are seven appendices drawn from the writings of contemporary critics of Hobbes's thought, including Filmer, Lawson, Bramhall, Hyde and others. Martinich has made a difficult but essential text as accessible to students as it is likely ever to become."

George Wright University of Wisconsin