Leviathan: Or the Matter, Forme, and Power of a Commonwealth Ecclesiasticall and CivilA cornerstone of modern western philosophy, addressing the role of man in government, society and religion In 1651, Hobbes published his work about the relationship between the government and the individual. More than four centuries old, this brilliant yet ruthless book analyzes not only the bases of government but also physical nature and the roles of man. Comparable to Plato's Republic in depth and insight, Leviathan includes two society-changing phenomena that Plato didn't dare to dream of -- the rise of great nation-states with their claims to absolute sovereignty, and modern science, with its unprecedented analytic power. To Hobbes, the leviathan -- a mythical sea creature described in the Old Testament -- represented his central thesis: that the state must be strong in order to control and protect its citizens. Even today, Hobbes's thesis in Leviathan is debated among scholars and philosophy aficionados around the globe. One of the earliest attempts at a genuinely scientific understanding of politics and society in their modern form, this book also remains one of the most stimulating. In his timeless work, Hobbes outlines his ideas about the passions and the conduct of man, and how his theories are realized in every individual. Addressing free will and religion, Hobbes constructs an intelligent argument for the basis of religion within government and how to organize a peaceful and successful Christian commonwealth. Like Plato's Republic, this book contains ideas on psychology, ethics, law, language, and religion that continue to challenge modern thinkers and exercise a profound influence on Western thought. A classic treatise of philosophy, Leviathan is critical reading for anyone who wishes to examine the human mind through the prisms of government and society. |
Contents
Authors Introduction | 3 |
The First Part Of | 5 |
Of Sense | 7 |
Of Imagination | 9 |
Of the Consequence or Train of Imaginations | 15 |
Of Speech | 20 |
Of Reason and Science | 29 |
of the Interior Beginnings of Voluntary Motions commonly called the Passions and the Speeches by which they are expressed | 36 |
Of the Nutrition and Procreation of a Commonwealth | 191 |
Of Counsel | 198 |
Of Civil Laws | 206 |
Of Crimes Excuses and Extenuations | 226 |
Of Punishments and Rewards | 241 |
Of those things that weaken or tend to the Dissolution of a Commonwealth | 250 |
Of the Office of the Sovereign Representative | 261 |
Of the Kingdom of God by Nature | 277 |
Of the Ends or Resolutions of Discourse | 47 |
of the Virtues commonly called Intellectual and their contrary Defects | 50 |
of the Several Subjects of Knowledge | 61 |
Of Power Worth Dignity Honour and Worthiness | 64 |
Of the Difference of Manners | 73 |
Of Religion | 80 |
Of the Natural Condition of Mankind as concerning their Felicity and Misery 92 22 | 92 |
Of the First and Second Natural Laws and of Contracts | 97 |
Of other Laws of Nature | 108 |
Of Persons Authors and Things Personated | 121 |
The Second Part Of Commonwealth | 127 |
Of the Causes Generation and Definition of a Commonwealth | 129 |
Of the Rights of Sovereigns by Institution | 134 |
Of the several kinds of Commonwealth by Institution and of Succession to the Sovereign Power | 143 |
Of Dominion Paternal and Despotical | 154 |
Of the Liberty of Subjects | 163 |
Of Systems Subject Political and Private | 174 |
Of the Public Ministers of Sovereign Power | 186 |
The Third Part Of a Christian Commonwealth | 289 |
Of the Principles of Christian Politics | 291 |
Of the Number Antiquity Scope Authority and Interpreters of the Books of Holy Scripture | 296 |
Of the Signification of Spirit Angel and Inspiration in the Books of Holy Scripture | 307 |
Of the Signification in Scripture of the Kingdom of God of Holy Sacred and Sacrament | 319 |
Of the Word of God and of Prophets | 327 |
Of Miracles and their Use | 342 |
Of the Signification in Scripture of Eternal Life Hell Salvation the World to Come and Redemption | 350 |
Of the Signification in Scripture of the word Church | 365 |
Of the Office of Our Blessed Saviour | 379 |
Of Power Ecclesiastical | 387 |
Of what is Necessary for a Mans Reception | 457 |
Of Spiritual Darkness | 473 |
Of Demonology and other Relics of | 498 |
Of Darkness from Vain Philosophy | 518 |
Of the Benefit that proceedeth from | 536 |
A Review and Conclusion | 546 |
Common terms and phrases
actions amongst angels apostles Aristotle assembly authority believe bishops body called cause chapter Christ Christian Church civil law civil sovereign command commonwealth consequently consisteth contrary counsel covenant crime death divers divine doctrine dominion doth dream earth enemy eternal evil excommunication faith false fancy fear give God’s hath heaven high-priest Hobbes honour idolatry interpretation Israel Israelites Jesus Jews judge judgment justice king kingdom kingdom of God law of nature liberty living Lord maketh man’s manifest manner Matt men’s ministers miracles monarch Moses obedience obey obliged Old Testament opinion ordained passions pastors peace person Pope preach pretend priests princes prophets punishment purgatory reason religion resurrection saith salvation Saviour Scripture sense signifieth signify signs sometimes sovereign power sovereignty spake speak speech spirit supernatural teach Testament thee thereby thing thou thought tion unto verse whatsoever wherein whereof words worship