Product Description
This new edition of Hobbe's masterpiece is uniquely suited to meet the needs of both student and scholar. It offers a brilliant introduction by Edwin Curley, modernised spelling and punctuation of the text, and a key annotative feature found in no other edition: the inclusion, along with historical and interpretive notes, of the most significant variants between the English version of 1651 and the Latin version of 1668. A glossary of seventeenth century English terms and indexes of persons, subjects, and scriptural passages help make this the most thoughtfully conceived edition of Leviathan available. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

On the Hackett edition (with some comparisons)
Hobbes wrote in English, so when it comes to English editions, translation is not an issue. For that reason, there are several good English editions of Leviathan out there. But Edwin Curley's, put out by Hackett, is easily among the best. The main reason for this is that it is the only version I am aware of which includes the variants from the Latin edition. Curley's has other benefits too, such as his inclusion of paragraph numbers, which, though it may seem like a minor detail, greatly eases navigation of the text, especially when reading it with other people. He modernizes Hobbes' spellings, which some readers prefer, and some detest. I don't find that it makes a significant difference, IMHO, although sometimes archaic spellings can get distracting. His introduction is also the best for understanding the significance of the Latin edition, and why and how he makes use of it. Look here first for an excellent edition of Hobbes' Leviathan.

The two other editions to consider are done by Richard Tuck, for Cambridge (Hobbes: Leviathan: Revised student edition (Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought)) and J. C. A. Gaskin, for Oxford (Leviathan (Oxford World's Classics)). Of these three, only Tuck retains Hobbes' spelling, which, as mentioned above, is in some ways beneficial, and in some ways confusing--beneficial because it reduces (possibly unwarranted) editorial interpolations, and confusing because modern eyes are not used to it. Gaskin also numbers his paragraphs, and modernizes spelling. Neither incorporate the Latin edition, though both make passing (dismissive) mention of its existence in their introductions. All three can be had without much expense--financial or otherwise--and for serious study it may be worth it to have all three to read alongside each other. If you can only get one, however, get Curley's.

Review of Hackett's Leviathan
It's clear that a lot of effort has gone into making this volume the spectacular piece of scholarship it now is. The original work is slightly edited for clarity, and the editor has placed something of an outline in the margin of the work, making the topic of each paragraph clear. There is an excellent, extensive introduction with primary biographical information and a timeline of Hobbes' life. Further, there are the Latin variants along the bottom of the work to supplement the classic work. There is a glossary in the back of the work for recalling Hobbes' definitions. This volume really has it all.

Excellent edition
There are lots of editions of Leviathan around, so why buy this one? The things the editor, Ed Curley, has done to make this edition accessible yet scholarly, like:

1. Updated spelling and punctuation. Although I personally miss Hobbes' original spelling (see the Penguin edition for that), as a teacher I appreciate Ed's making it easier for beginners to read Hobbes' words.

2. Index. Most editions do not have one.

3. Glossary. Hobbes used many terms that are now archaic, and Ed's brief but clear glossary helps clarify the text.

4. Ed's Introduction. Curley is one of the most careful and knowledgeable commentators on Hobbes, and he briefly but expertly introduces some of the major themes of the book.

5. Latin variants. Hobbes wrote Leviathan in English and in Latin, and there are some interesting differences between the two versions. Ed presents many of these in the footnotes, plus he includes English translations of the Appendices of the Latin version.

The First Modern Political Philosopher
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) wrote "Leviathan" in 1651, it was his most important philosophical work.I think you should know something of Hobbes to understand how his thinking was influenced by his experiences.He was born 2 months prematurely on the day the Spanish Armada approaches the English coast.His mother's fear of invasion caused the premature birth.Hobbes remarked late in life, "his mother brought forth twins-myself and fear."Fear seems to be Hobbes life long companion and the key passion in his political system, which uses human passions as its foundation.He was a child prodigy reading Latin and Greek at the age of six years old.At fifteen, he entered Oxford University and hated his educational experience there.He thought the curriculum was too immersed in the ancient Greek philosophers like Aristotle.He called them "erroneous doctrines," and throughout his life he railed against English universities for there stodgy curriculum.

At the age of 22, he graduates and takes a job to tutor the son of the Earl of Devonshire.It gives him the opportunity to travel throughout Europe where he meets with Galileo in Florence and Descartes in Paris.Descartes calls Hobbes the greatest political philosopher of his day.During the British civil war, Hobbes flees to Paris because he is a well-known monarchist sympathizer.In 1651, he publishes his monumental work "Leviathan."He returns to England, submits to Cromwell's government, and withdraws from politics.He is on friendly terms with Charles II when the Stuart's are restored to the throne.

Hobbes philosophy is "materialistic"; he is greatly influenced by Galileo's mechanistic approach to science, and Euclidian geometry.His ambition was to explain all phenomena, man, and government with mathematical precision.In "Leviathan," he explains human conduct is a product of human passions.The most dominant passions are fear of violent death and desire for power, both are manifestations of man's most basic impulse, "self preservation."Hobbes asserts that the basic impulse is the right of the individual; he calls it a "natural right."All men process this natural right equally.This theory leads Hobbes to believe man's natural state to be one of constant conflict with each other.This leads him to write the following quote he is most known for: "men's lives are solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short."So as not to have to live in constant state of fear or conflict, men make a contract for protection with the state.Hobbes believes that the best state is one led by a single sovereign whose power must be unrestricted with all three branches of government devolving to him.A single sovereign who has absolute power and cannot be replaced by the people.

His political writing had immediate influence in the world and influences other philosophers like Spinoza, Hutcheson, Locke, and Hume.Hobbes is the first man to write about political philosophy in such methodical terms.He is an excellent writer and his theories are easy to understand by the laymen.As a graduate student of political philosophy, I recommend if you have an interest in politics, philosophy, or government then you must start with reading Hobbes "Leviathan."

Greatest Work of Philosophy in English
This is one of the few books in western thought that cannot recieve enough praise.It is all at the same time a compilation of classical and medieval thought, a biting commentary and critique of 17th century Europe (England in particular), an exploration of philosophy as science, and to top it all off the first truly modern work of political philosophy.This is one of those works that anyone who truly wants to call themselves educated must read, whether their focus of studies is philosophy, politics, literature, science or even mathematics.

The fundamental nature of this work is to construct a reasoned materialistic account of human behavior starting from basic definitions and postulates (very similar to geometry).From these basic principles Hobbes constructs an account of human physchology based on human desires which then culminates in man's need to leave the natural state of the world into the constructed society, which Hobbes calls the leviathan.I cannot even attempt to give a summation of the steps of Hobbes's argument here that would do him justice, but suffice it to say that Hobbes's conclusion is that in order to be happy and safe man must give up his rights to a strong soveriegn.This is a conclusion that may not look modern or attractive at all to most readers, but Hobbes's reasonong is so clear and detailed that it forces the reader to, if not agree with all of his principles, at least take them very seriously.This is one of those books that forces one to reaxamine all of their assumptions about the world.Hobbes is also one of those misunderstood authors who are portrayed as being cold and ruthless, but are simply trying to provide their readers with an accurate and analytic account of humanities problems and hopefully providing solutions.

If all of this hasn't scared you away yet I do have to say thatLeviathan is not an easy book to read.Its thought is difficult and its language is archaic, but for those who are willing to accept the work this book can be very interesting and rewarding.Hobbes might be a dense writer, but unlike many philosophical writers, he is a very clear and concise and often surprisingly witty and wry.

There are two editons that I recommend.The first is the Hackett edition.Not only does it take the liberty of changing the veried spellings of Hobbes's 17th century english, but it also includes textual variances from the earlier Latin edition of the work.Some of these variants are significant and should be takin into consideration by the serious student.The other is the Cambridge Student Edition, which is the edition I used because I'm one of those students that enjoy reading the early english texts with their strange spellings.The disadvantage of this edition is that it does not include the latin variations.The introductions and suplementary material in both of these editionsare fine, but my personal favorite is the introduction written byMichael Oakeshott which can be fond in a collection of his essays entitled, "Hobbes on Civil Association".Another work which greatly elucidates some of Hobbes's strong almost vehement reactions to anything democratic is Hobbes's "Behemoth" in which he provides his account of the English Civil War.If you are really interested in Hobbes I also highly recommend his work "De Cive".Hobbes is hard, but he is unavoidable for anyone interested in understanding our modern world and our world in general.You may even find that, like myself, you just can't get enough of Hobbes. ... Read more

Product Description
Leviathan is both a magnificent literary achievement and the greatest work of political philosophy in the English language. Permanently challenging, it has found new applications and new refutations in every generation. This new edition reproduces the first printed text, retaining the original punctuation but modernizing the spelling. It offers exceptionally thorough and useful annotation, an introduction that guides the reader through the complexities of Hobbes's arguments, and a substantial index. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

And Let Darkness Descend Upon Us
Alright, Hobbes is not what you would call casual reading.If you like thick political philosophy, you may enjoy this though.Unlike most political works, you should not feel compelled to agree with everything Hobbes states, as it is quite a difficult sell.But he is very enjoyable, unless of coarse you are an eternal optimist or true-blue believer in democracy.

Although vilified by most for his extreme view of an all powerful head of state governing over the cruel and devilish populace, Hobbes creates a senerio that I think most would agree with in some way or form.People, left to their own devices, will inherently murder and steal from each other to the point that civilized life becomes unbearable.It's quite a world picture that Hobbes presents, and quite fascinating as well.The idea I believe Hobbes asks each person to explore is fundamental--what is the true nature of the individual?His answer in short is chilling--the individual is not to be trusted!While we can ask that education and high moral fiber dictate the peoples actions, do we really want to rely on the goodness of our neighbors, or do we want to keep a steady eye on them while holding fast to our sword?

While I find it hard to believe any person would call themselves a die-hard Hobbesian, I think most people will find themselves answering in agreement to much that he has to say.After all, even many of the founding fathers feared the impulses of the masses and sought refuge in a powerful central government to keep the monsters at bay.Here's a tip:keep short notes while you read.Don't get caught up in all the details, and you'll enjoy this book.

difficult read
I find the book very challenging to read and comprehend.Have picked it up numerous times and put it down before too long.Change your diet to increase your IQ by 50 points before attempting.

The First Modern Political Philosopher
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) wrote "Leviathan" in 1651, it was his most important philosophical work.I think you should know something of Hobbes to understand how his thinking was influenced by his experiences.He was born 2 months prematurely on the day the Spanish Armada approaches the English coast.His mother's fear of invasion caused the premature birth.Hobbes remarked late in life, "his mother brought forth twins-myself and fear."Fear seems to be Hobbes life long companion and the key passion in his political system, which uses human passions as its foundation.He was a child prodigy reading Latin and Greek at the age of six years old.At fifteen, he entered Oxford University and hated his educational experience there.He thought the curriculum was too immersed in the ancient Greek philosophers like Aristotle.He called them "erroneous doctrines," and throughout his life he railed against English universities for there stodgy curriculum.

At the age of 22, he graduates and takes a job to tutor the son of the Earl of Devonshire.It gives him the opportunity to travel throughout Europe where he meets with Galileo in Florence and Descartes in Paris.Descartes calls Hobbes the greatest political philosopher of his day.During the British civil war, Hobbes flees to Paris because he is a well-known monarchist sympathizer.In 1651, he publishes his monumental work "Leviathan."He returns to England, submits to Cromwell's government, and withdraws from politics.He is on friendly terms with Charles II when the Stuart's are restored to the throne.

Hobbes philosophy is "materialistic"; he is greatly influenced by Galileo's mechanistic approach to science, and Euclidian geometry.His ambition was to explain all phenomena, man, and government with mathematical precision.In "Leviathan," he explains human conduct is a product of human passions.The most dominant passions are fear of violent death and desire for power, both are manifestations of man's most basic impulse, "self preservation."Hobbes asserts that the basic impulse is the right of the individual; he calls it a "natural right."All men process this natural right equally.This theory leads Hobbes to believe man's natural state to be one of constant conflict with each other.This leads him to write the following quote he is most known for: "men's lives are solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short."So as not to have to live in constant state of fear or conflict, men make a contract for protection with the state.Hobbes believes that the best state is one led by a single sovereign whose power must be unrestricted with all three branches of government devolving to him.A single sovereign who has absolute power and cannot be replaced by the people.

His political writing had immediate influence in the world and influences other philosophers like Spinoza, Hutcheson, Locke, and Hume.Hobbes is the first man to write about political philosophy in such methodical terms.He is an excellent writer and his theories are easy to understand by the laymen.As a graduate student of political philosophy, I recommend if you have an interest in politics, philosophy, or government then you must start with reading Hobbes "Leviathan."
... Read more

Product Description
Titled after the biblical Leviathan, this book concerns the structure of society and legitimate government, and is regarded as one of the earliest and most influential examples of social contract theory.Thomas Hobbes argues for a social contract and rule by an absolute sovereign. Hobbes wrote that chaos or civil war - situations identified with a state of nature and the famous motto Bellum omnium contra omnes ("the war of all against all") - could only be averted by strong central government. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (42)

good quality, fast shipping
this book came quickly to my place and the book was great quality as well

Penguin Kindle edition: typo on the first page
The actual content itself is alright, though I don't agree with its negative view of human nature. I've read Leviathan before, for philosophy classes, and will be reading it again (for a philosophy class). This is actually a review of the Penguin Kindle edition, rather than the content. There's a typo on the first page! The subtitle of the introduction reads: "Hobbes, Analyst of Power and Peach," when it should read: "Hobbes, Analyst of Power and Peace." It seems like typos are common in some Penguin ebooks. For example: Wireless by Charles Stross also has plenty of typos. Penguin should have their ebooks proofread. Unfortunately, I need this book for a class, and need an edition from a major publisher (so I can cite it in papers), so I can't just get the free edition.

Poor edition
This book uses very poor paper and has a poor printing. The binding is so bad that it hardly unfolds. This book can only be used as a text for students.

difficult to read
the essence of Hobbes critical thinking and evaluation is commendable except that the book is extremely difficult to read because it is in Old English. As a result I only read a couple of chapters that really interested me. I feel its effectiveness would be greatly increased if someone would render the text into modern English and republish.

A Classic
While not written yesterday, this classical treatise on politics and society is still as relevant today as it has always been. Required reading on Political Science degree courses the World over, it is almost unthinkable that any serious (or even casual) student of the field would deprive themselves of its insights. Not always the easiest of reads, it, never the less, rewards the reader more than adequately with its insights and observations. ... Read more

Product Description
Thomas Hobbes' timeless account of the human condition, first developed in The Elements of Law (1640), which comprises Human Nature and De Corpore Politico, is a direct product of the intellectual and political strife of the seventeenth century.His analysis of the war between the individual and the group lays out the essential strands of his moral and political philosophy later made famous in Leviathan.This first ever complete paperback edition of Human Nature and De Corpore Politico is also supplemented by chapters from Hobbes' later work De Corpore and "The Three Lives," never before published together in English. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Hobbes for starters
This book is quite brilliant, and I would recommend this before Leviathan to most people that would want to get to know Hobbes' writing. It's a "lighter" text all over as far as I'm concerned, and it still gets most of it's points across in a great manner. The two books are also very similar, and for me, having read Leviathan beforehand, this was much of the same, only a little easier to read, as the translater has removed the capitalization etc that made the version I read of Leviathan a little archaic.

Think what you want of Hobbes suggestions, I can fully understand why many shrink from his authoritative prescriptions, but read him nevertheless, because the foundations of his writing is incredibly fascinating and fun to read, and that part (About human nature etc.) should be interesting regardless of political views, contrary to his politics.

The First Modern Political Philosopher
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) wrote "Leviathan" in 1651, it was his most important philosophical work.I think you should know something of Hobbes to understand how his thinking was influenced by his experiences.He was born 2 months prematurely on the day the Spanish Armada approaches the English coast.His mother's fear of invasion caused the premature birth.Hobbes remarked late in life, "his mother brought forth twins-myself and fear."Fear seems to be Hobbes life long companion and the key passion in his political system, which uses human passions as its foundation.He was a child prodigy reading Latin and Greek at the age of six years old.At fifteen, he entered Oxford University and hated his educational experience there.He thought the curriculum was too immersed in the ancient Greek philosophers like Aristotle.He called them "erroneous doctrines," and throughout his life he railed against English universities for there stodgy curriculum.

At the age of 22, he graduates and takes a job to tutor the son of the Earl of Devonshire.It gives him the opportunity to travel throughout Europe where he meets with Galileo in Florence and Descartes in Paris.Descartes calls Hobbes the greatest political philosopher of his day.During the British civil war, Hobbes flees to Paris because he is a well-known monarchist sympathizer.In 1651, he publishes his monumental work "Leviathan."He returns to England, submits to Cromwell's government, and withdraws from politics.He is on friendly terms with Charles II when the Stuart's are restored to the throne.

Hobbes philosophy is "materialistic"; he is greatly influenced by Galileo's mechanistic approach to science, and Euclidian geometry.His ambition was to explain all phenomena, man, and government with mathematical precision.In "Leviathan," he explains human conduct is a product of human passions.The most dominant passions are fear of violent death and desire for power, both are manifestations of man's most basic impulse, "self preservation."Hobbes asserts that the basic impulse is the right of the individual; he calls it a "natural right."All men process this natural right equally.This theory leads Hobbes to believe man's natural state to be one of constant conflict with each other.This leads him to write the following quote he is most known for: "men's lives are solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short."So as not to have to live in constant state of fear or conflict, men make a contract for protection with the state.Hobbes believes that the best state is one led by a single sovereign whose power must be unrestricted with all three branches of government devolving to him.A single sovereign who has absolute power and cannot be replaced by the people.

His political writing had immediate influence in the world and influences other philosophers like Spinoza, Hutcheson, Locke, and Hume.Hobbes is the first man to write about political philosophy in such methodical terms.He is an excellent writer and his theories are easy to understand by the laymen.As a graduate student of political philosophy, I recommend if you have an interest in politics, philosophy, or government then you must start with reading Hobbes "Leviathan."
... Read more

Product Description
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) was the first great English political philosopher, and his book Leviathan was one of the first truly modern works of philosophy. Richard Tuck shows that while Hobbes may indeed have been an atheist, he was far from pessimistic about human nature, nor did he advocate totalitarianism. By locating him against the context of his age, we learn that Hobbes developed a theory of knowledge which rivaled that of Descartes in its importance for the formation of modern philosophy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

This is why I love the VSI series
At their best, the VSI series is arguably the greatest series of introductory volumes on different thinkers and subjects currently being published. Part of it is that many of the volumes are republications of volumes in earlier series by Oxford, the Past Masters and Present Masters series.
Tuck's volume on Hobbes is one of those republications. One can easily see why the VSI series editors felt no need to seek out a new publication on Hobbes. Tuck's book is outstanding in content and organization. That organization is very simple. A chapter on Hobbes life and his relationship with his contemporaries and with some earlier thinkers highlights Hobbes relationship to Montaigne, Machiavelli, Descartes and Grotius.
The second chapter on Hobbes' theories is a masterpiece of compression. In 55 well-written pages, Tuck ties together the whole of Hobbes' writings into a coherent argument.
The third chapter is a history of reaction to Hobbes by other thinkers. I like this chapter unlike one of the reviewers below. Tuck guides us through the reaction of Hume, Kant, the Utilitarians, Toennis, Leo Strauss, C.B. Macpherson, Cassirer, Oakeshott, Quentin Skinner and some lesser lights.
As always with the VSI series there is a guide to further reading, a good index, their outstanding format and reasonable price. There may be better books on Hobbes. One of the reviewers below mentions a book by Johann Sommerville. Unfortunately it sells on Amazon for over $50. So my recommendation is read Tuck, read Leviathan and then seek out Sommerville in a library. That's my plan.

An authoritative introduction to the first great English political philosopher
The author starts by telling us "Hobbes created English-language philosophy".Really?What of Francis Bacon, to whom Hobbes once acted as amanuensis?Poor Bacon does get a brief, grudging mention later on.The description in the blurb of Hobbes as "the first great English political philosopher" is probably more accurate.Certainly he is important, in a broad Western context.He was central to the transition from medieval to modern thought, and was a strong influence on Rousseau and others.Tuck is an expert guide (despite his inexplicable slighting of Bacon) and his style is very readable.This introduction covers Hobbes's life, works and intellectual legacy.Reliable and informative, it is highly recommended as an introduction to, and summary of, Hobbes's ideas, but to better appreciate the context, you might want to read (dare I say it?) Bacon's Essays first.

Adequate but less than lucid
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) was an extremely important English philosopher, best known for his political philosophy, especially as found in the work "Leviathan".

Richard Tuck's overview of Hobbes does an adequate job of summarizing the views of this important philosopher; however, the book at times feels a little bit too detail-oriented, often at the expense of forming a more clear picture of Hobbes's philosophy as a whole.One particularly confusing discussion involves Hobbes's ideas about the difference between a "natural right" and a "natural law".

The three main sections of the book focus on Hobbes's life, Hobbes's work, and later interpretations of Hobbes.Perhaps this last section is the most fascinating; we find, for example, Hobbes political theory in modern times being analyzed within the idiom of "game theory".

Tuck is clearly an expert and knows what he's talking about, but his book might be pitched just a bit over the head of a true beginner to the study of Hobbes or philosophy in general.

All in all this is a decent work - but it occasionally becomes over-academic at the expense of clarity... and in a work of this sort, clarity is a priceless asset.

Good very short introduction
I was able to read this entire little book in much less than a day.Especially interesting was the first section, "Hobbes' Life", which described the relationships between philosophers of that time, both between each other and society.The section on Hobbes' philosophy was also well done, and very informitive.The section on interpretations of Hobbes' didn't seem to have a point.It covered the fine distinctions modern scholars are making, which is well outside the scope of a book introducing someone to Hobbes.As this section can simply be skipped it didn't take away from the book, despite it's questionable value.

An introduction to Hobbes written with clarity and grace
When I read British philosophy as an undergraduate, I skimmed over Hobbes and focused primarily on Locke, Berkeley, and Hume. It was not until recently that I realized the importance of Hobbes's political thought. Therefore, I decided to read Hobbes's "Leviathan." Havingpreviously discovered the outstanding little books in the "PastMasters" series published by the Oxford University Press, I firstlooked to see if the series included a title on Hobbes, and I found Tuck'sbook, which I read before reading "Leviathan." Tuck's "Hobbes"provided me with a good foundation for reading "Leviathan," andTuck greatly increased my appreciation for Hobbes. Tuck is particularlycareful to describe not only Hobbes's political philosophy; he alsoprovides an introduction to Hobbes's thought regarding religion, science,ethics, and philosophical method. By gaining an overall picture of Hobbes'sthought, I came to appreciate Tuck's claim that "Hobbes createdEnglish-language philosophy." I recommend this book to anyoneapproaching Hobbes for the first time. ... Read more

Product Description
In this classic analysis, Leo Strauss pinpoints what is original and innovative in the political philosophy of Thomas Hobbes. He argues that Hobbes's ideas arose not from tradition or science but from his own deep knowledge and experience of human nature. Tracing the development of Hobbes's moral doctrine from his early writings to his major work The Leviathan, Strauss explains contradictions in the body of Hobbes's work and discovers startling connections between Hobbes and the thought of Plato, Thucydides, Aristotle, Descartes, Spinoza, and Hegel.

Leo Strauss (1899-1973) was Robert Maynard Hutchins Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus in political science at the University of Chicago. Among his works published by the University of Chicago Press are Thoughts on Machiavelli, The City and Man, and Natural Right and History. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

a note on latin
I just want to note that quotations from Latin in this book are left untranslated so if you are not familiar with this language, a scholarly reading may require additonal work on your part.

Know Your Hobbes
Leo Strauss, in his first printed work, does a superb job of distilling Hobbes essential ideas on man.By showing us the educational background of Hobbes and the philosophers he read Strauss, shows how Hobbes comes to believe that "man acts out of fear of death".The preservation of life is the primary goal of man in the "Hobbesean" world."Vanity is the force that makes men blind, fear is the force which makes men see".

Strauss points out that Hobbes started out as a classical political philosopher who was influenced by his readings of Aristotle and Plato.Not until Hobbes was forty years old and he discovered the works of Euclid did Hobbes move away from the "humanist" view to a more "scientific" approach to political philosophy.Euclid teaches Hobbes that politics must have a philosophy; it can't just be studied through history. Hobbes criticism of Aristotle and historism was; "that the historian takes the great as his standard, while the philosopher is concerned with the right and true". Hobbes is the first to see clearly between "right" and "law" the state is founded on the "right" "law" is a mere consequence.Strauss points out that, "Hobbes becomes the first philosopher to realize that politics can be raised to the rank of science".

This book is not an easy read for the casual reader but is essential for one to understand the concept of political philosophy.

Strauss before Strauss
I read somewhere that Strauss carried this book in a water-tight container when he crossed the channel to England so that, even if the ship went down, his work would survive. However that may be, it is the rare opportunity tosee Strauss genuinely struggle with a problem. The prevailing opinion, I amtold, is that Hobbes' science, or the discovery of Galileo'sanalytic-synthetic method, was the origin of Hobbes political philosophy(the analysis of the prevailing order (state of nature), the synthesis orconstruction of a new order (Leviathan)). Strauss makes the convincingargument that not the scientific method, but instead Aristotelian humanism(in particular, the anthropology of the Rhetoric) was the"source" for Hobbes' Staatslehre. Central to this is a critiqueof aristocratism, and the aristocratic valorization of courage. Not couragebut cowardice and the fear of death is the ruling passion of the Hobbesianbourgeois (if Bloom learned anything from Strauss, it was that). Inparticular, Hobbes borrowed from the Rhetoric the treatment of anger, inwhich the most asocial human passion is the desire for revenge (andjustice). Strauss later repudiated (in Natural Right) the argument againstHobbes scientism, but the point was made. ... Read more

Product Description

Part of the “Longman Library of Primary Sources in Philosophy,” this edition of Hobbes's The Leviathan is framed by a pedagogical structure designed to make this important work of philosophy more accessible and meaningful for readers. A General Introduction includes biographical information on Hobbes, the work's historical context, and a discussion of historical influences. Annotations and notes from the editor clarify difficult passages for greater understanding. A bibliography gives the reader additional resources for further study.

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Clear and Persuasive
What a joy it was to read Perez Zagorin's Hobbes and the Law of Nature.For non-professional philosophers, such as myself, I cannot imagine a finer overview of the main themes of Hobbes' political philosophy. Among the many things that I like about this short text (128 pages) is that it is not a hatchet job.Unlike others, he does not tranform Hobbes into a "straw man" so that he can pillory him.On the contrary, Zagorin, while alert to where Hobbes's thought bears tough scrutiny, shows Hobbes at his best.And even more than that, he shows how everything that Hobbes wrote flows from his original presuppositions about human nature.This is a fun, fascinating, and engaging book.Enjoy it! ... Read more

Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Product Description
Behemoth is Thomas Hobbes's narrative of the English Civil Wars from the beginning of the Scottish revolution in 1637 to the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, and is his only composition to address directly the history of the events which formed the context of his writings in Leviathan and elsewhere on sovereignty and the government of the Church. Although presented as an account of past events, it conceals a vigorous attack on the values of the religious and political establishment of Restoration England. This is the first fully scholarly edition of the work, and the first new edition of the text since 1889. Based on Hobbes's own presentation manuscript, it includes for the first time an accurate transcription of the passages which Hobbes had deleted in the text, and notes made by early readers. ... Read more

Product Description
"Thomas Hobbes's translation of Thucydides brings together the magisterial prose of one of the greatest writers of the English language and the depth of mind and experience of one of the greatest writers of history in any language. . . . For every reason, the current availability of this great work is a boon."--Joseph Cropsey, University of Chicago ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Need to Love History to get through this.
A classic that directly connects today's people with the those thousands of years ago.A true time machine that lends incite into human nature and conflict that exist even today.I found this book to be a great mirror that we can see ourselves in if one cares to change names and places to find similarities.

Although very long and documentary in style, it is a Maciavellian account of the human societal animal.When one puts history like this into perspective with the growth of city states into nation states, one can see that although we may advance technologically - people haven't really changed all that much.

Warning: Be prepared to be dragged through account after account of historical events and long speeches.Nevertheless, a classic one will be happy to read.

The first serious Western history
For all we know, Thucydides was the first real historian in the Western world, and possibly the first in the world, period. Unlike Homer (a poet, not a historian) and Herodotus, who mixed folk tales and myths with factual reports, Thucydides sticks to facts, with the advantage of having been a contemporary and even a participant himself in the Peloponnesian War. So it makes for a credible reading. But this book is also important for other reasons. This war terminated the glory of Athens and in fact precluded its development as an empire. The war between only two "superpowers" and their allies has also served to illustrate bipolar conflict, such as the Cold War, and there are even whole courses about this book to illuminate a bipolar situation.

This translation by master political thinker Thomas Hobbes ("Leviathan") is not an easy read, yet it conveys the power of Thucydides's prose. Famous episodes of the war include, of course, Pericles's funeral oration, one of the best speeches ever recorded (if T. made it up, then he was one of the best speechwriters); the plague in Athens, a most unfortunate development for their side; rebellion in Corcyra; and the disastrous and worth-learning-from invasion of Sicily. One of the best history and politics books you can read.

A Greek World War
Homer filled his pages mostly with myth, with some general facts which remotely relate to history.Herodotus wrote mostly history, with a few myths and prophecies interspersed here & there.

With Thucydides, we get the first book in western culture that is 100% purely devoted to history.The historian expresses his disinterest in speculation about the will of the gods while turning his attention solely to factual accounts of the Peloponnesian War.

The present text discloses T's history, all dressed up in the eloquent, occasionally verbose prose of the 17th century philosopher, John Hobbes.David Grene of the university of Chicago does a credible job of auditing Hobbes' translation, pointing out errors, mis-interpretations & omissions in the text.

This work contains all of the most salient episodes of the war, from the funeral oration of Pericles (Book II), the unsteady truce between Athens & Sparta (Book V) and the disastrous Sicilian expedition (VI & VII).The latter proved to be the crippling blow which sealed the defeat of Athens. Less known, but equally poignant, is what Princeton's Michael Sugrue would call the "Big Fish Eat Little Fish" oration which the Athenians deliver to the Melians (Book V) before wiping them out.

Hobbes metes out ample attention to each major event, carefully crafting his diction with the efficacy of delivering the desired effect.However, there are times when his sentences get a bit syrupy & are a bit long.It does not help matters that Thucydides constantly skips around to diverse engagements, both major & minor, not always making it clear whom or what he is referring to.While it is fairly simple to keep track of the major players in the war (i.e.:Athens, Sparta, Argos, Syracuse, Corinth, Thebes, etc) it becomes increasingly difficult to follow all of the minor provinces involved as the war goes on.Of course, the people in T's day were already familiar with whom was aligned with whom, so detailed explanations of Greek alliances are omitted.This can be a obstacle for the modern reader.

All in all, tho, this is a credible translation to one of the most monumental works of history ever composed.Within these pages we discover the nobility and wisdom of Pericles, the treachery of Alcibiades, the violence and short-sightedness of Cleon and the effective generalship of Nicias. The most poignant aspects of the period all surface without any ambiguity; the arrogant hubris of the Athenians, the resilience of the Lacedaemonians and the determination of the Syracusians.Hobbes should be applauded for pulling off one of the best English translations of Greek history ever recorded.

A classic (and fun!!!)
This is really a great book. Considered a classic of historic writing, Thucydides continues to be fresh and contemporary. If you read too much Plato and are bored with the ancient greeks, here's the antidote! Wonderfulreading. And this Hobbes translation is incredible. A masterpiece,timeless. Don't hesitate; every educated person should read it.

The best translation of Thucydides yet.
The Hobbes translation and David Grene's intelligent and relevent notes make this the best version of Thucydides I have yet read.While I am not a scholar in this area, I feel that this is probably the grandest historyever written and that the Hobbes translation does it justice.It has beensaid that at best a translator is not merely changing the work fromlanguage to language but giving it a new life.Hobbes succeeded briliantlyin this, and I feel that through Mr. Grene's notes, the translation is asnear to the original as one can get. ... Read more

Product Description
In this book, S. A. Lloyd offers a radically new interpretation of Hobbes's laws of nature, revealing them to be not egoistic precepts of personal prudence but rather moral instructions for obtaining the common good. This account of Hobbes's moral philosophy stands in contrast to both divine command and rational choice interpretations. Drawing from the core notion of reciprocity, Lloyd explains Hobbes's system of "cases in the law of nature" and situates Hobbes's moral philosophy in the broader context of his political philosophy and views on religion. Offering ingenious new arguments, Lloyd defends a reciprocity interpretation of the laws of nature through which humanity's common good is secured. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume explores, from a variety of perspectives, the political theory of the man who is arguably the greatest English political thinker. It is the first substantial collection of new, critical essays on Thomas Hobbes by leading scholars in over a decade.

Hobbes's writings stirred debate in his own lifetime, for two centuries thereafter, and continue to do so in ours. They emerged in a period of intense political turmoil-a time of civil war and regicide, of puritanical rule and royal restoration. "They were motivated," Dietz argues, "by concrete political problems and a practical concern--namely, to secure political order, absolute sovereignty, and civil peace." The contributors emphasize and answer a series of expressly political questions that, to date, have not been fully addressed in the Hobbes literature. They contend that Hobbes's writings are not mere static artifacts of a particular historical milieu, but rather rich sources of a variety of interpretations and criticisms that spur discussion and debate in their turn. ... Read more

Product Description
The Allegiance of Thomas Hobbes offers a revisionist interpretation of Thomas Hobbes's evolving response to the English Revolution. It rejects the prevailing understanding of Hobbes as a consistent, if idiosyncratic, royalist, and vindicates the contemporaneous view that the publication of Leviathan marked Hobbes's accommodation with England's revolutionary regime. In sustaining these conclusions, Professor Collins foregrounds the religious features of Hobbes's writings, and maintains a contextual focus on the broader religious dynamics of the English Revolution itself. Hobbes and the Revolution are both placed within the tumultuous historical process that saw the emerging English state coercively secure jurisdictional control over national religion and the corporate church. Seen in the light of this history, Thomas Hobbes emerges as a theorist who moved with, rather than against, the revolutionary currents of his age. The strongest claim of the book is that Hobbes was motivated by his deep detestation of clerical power to break with the Stuart cause and to justify the religious policies of England's post-regicidal masters, including Oliver Cromwell.
Methodologically, Professor Collins supplements intellectual or linguistic contextual analysis with original research into Hobbes's biography, the prosopography of his associates, the reception of Hobbes's published works, and the nature of the English Revolution as a religious conflict. This multi-dimensional contextual approach produces, among other fruits: a new understanding of the political implications of Leviathan; an original interpretation of Hobbes's civil war history, Behemoth; a clearer picture of Hobbes's career during the neglected period of the 1650s; and a revisionist interpretation of Hobbes's reaction to the emergence of English republicanism. By presenting Thomas Hobbes as a political actor within a precisely defined political context, Professor Collins has recovered the significance of Hobbes's writings as artefacts of the English Revolution. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The First Modern Political Philosopher
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) wrote "Leviathan" in 1651, it was his most important philosophical work.I think you should know something of Hobbes to understand how his thinking was influenced by his experiences.He was born 2 months prematurely on the day the Spanish Armada approaches the English coast.His mother's fear of invasion caused the premature birth.Hobbes remarked late in life, "his mother brought forth twins-myself and fear."Fear seems to be Hobbes life long companion and the key passion in his political system, which uses human passions as its foundation.He was a child prodigy reading Latin and Greek at the age of six years old.At fifteen, he entered Oxford University and hated his educational experience there.He thought the curriculum was too immersed in the ancient Greek philosophers like Aristotle.He called them "erroneous doctrines," and throughout his life he railed against English universities for there stodgy curriculum.

At the age of 22, he graduates and takes a job to tutor the son of the Earl of Devonshire.It gives him the opportunity to travel throughout Europe where he meets with Galileo in Florence and Descartes in Paris.Descartes calls Hobbes the greatest political philosopher of his day.During the British civil war, Hobbes flees to Paris because he is a well-known monarchist sympathizer.In 1651, he publishes his monumental work "Leviathan."He returns to England, submits to Cromwell's government, and withdraws from politics.He is on friendly terms with Charles II when the Stuart's are restored to the throne.

Hobbes philosophy is "materialistic"; he is greatly influenced by Galileo's mechanistic approach to science, and Euclidian geometry.His ambition was to explain all phenomena, man, and government with mathematical precision.In "Leviathan," he explains human conduct is a product of human passions.The most dominant passions are fear of violent death and desire for power, both are manifestations of man's most basic impulse, "self preservation."Hobbes asserts that the basic impulse is the right of the individual; he calls it a "natural right."All men process this natural right equally.This theory leads Hobbes to believe man's natural state to be one of constant conflict with each other.This leads him to write the following quote he is most known for: "men's lives are solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short."So as not to have to live in constant state of fear or conflict, men make a contract for protection with the state.Hobbes believes that the best state is one led by a single sovereign whose power must be unrestricted with all three branches of government devolving to him.A single sovereign who has absolute power and cannot be replaced by the people.

His political writing had immediate influence in the world and influences other philosophers like Spinoza, Hutcheson, Locke, and Hume.Hobbes is the first man to write about political philosophy in such methodical terms.He is an excellent writer and his theories are easy to understand by the laymen.As a graduate student of political philosophy, I recommend if you have an interest in politics, philosophy, or government then you must start with reading Hobbes "Leviathan."
... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

The First Modern Political Philosopher
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) wrote "Leviathan" in 1651, it was his most important philosophical work.I think you should know something of Hobbes to understand how his thinking was influenced by his experiences.He was born 2 months prematurely on the day the Spanish Armada approaches the English coast.His mother's fear of invasion caused the premature birth.Hobbes remarked late in life, "his mother brought forth twins-myself and fear."Fear seems to be Hobbes life long companion and the key passion in his political system, which uses human passions as its foundation.He was a child prodigy reading Latin and Greek at the age of six years old.At fifteen, he entered Oxford University and hated his educational experience there.He thought the curriculum was too immersed in the ancient Greek philosophers like Aristotle.He called them "erroneous doctrines," and throughout his life he railed against English universities for there stodgy curriculum.

At the age of 22, he graduates and takes a job to tutor the son of the Earl of Devonshire.It gives him the opportunity to travel throughout Europe where he meets with Galileo in Florence and Descartes in Paris.Descartes calls Hobbes the greatest political philosopher of his day.During the British civil war, Hobbes flees to Paris because he is a well-known monarchist sympathizer.In 1651, he publishes his monumental work "Leviathan."He returns to England, submits to Cromwell's government, and withdraws from politics.He is on friendly terms with Charles II when the Stuart's are restored to the throne.

Hobbes philosophy is "materialistic"; he is greatly influenced by Galileo's mechanistic approach to science, and Euclidian geometry.His ambition was to explain all phenomena, man, and government with mathematical precision.In "Leviathan," he explains human conduct is a product of human passions.The most dominant passions are fear of violent death and desire for power, both are manifestations of man's most basic impulse, "self preservation."Hobbes asserts that the basic impulse is the right of the individual; he calls it a "natural right."All men process this natural right equally.This theory leads Hobbes to believe man's natural state to be one of constant conflict with each other.This leads him to write the following quote he is most known for: "men's lives are solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short."So as not to have to live in constant state of fear or conflict, men make a contract for protection with the state.Hobbes believes that the best state is one led by a single sovereign whose power must be unrestricted with all three branches of government devolving to him.A single sovereign who has absolute power and cannot be replaced by the people.

His political writing had immediate influence in the world and influences other philosophers like Spinoza, Hutcheson, Locke, and Hume.Hobbes is the first man to write about political philosophy in such methodical terms.He is an excellent writer and his theories are easy to understand by the laymen.As a graduate student of political philosophy, I recommend if you have an interest in politics, philosophy, or government then you must start with reading Hobbes "Leviathan."
... Read more

Product Description
The book may have numerous typos or missing text. It is not illustrated or indexed. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from the publisher's website. You can also preview the book there.Purchasers are also entitled to a trial membership in the publisher's book club where they can select from more than a million books for free.Original Publisher: Simpkin, Marshall Publication date: 1889Subjects: Great Britain; History / Europe / Great Britain ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

image problems
This book is an edition created from U of Michigan microfilm with a random picture of a snowy mountain on the front which seems to have nothing to do with the book itself.Unfortunately, the image quality varies quite a bit from page to page.Many pages are copied so badly as to be almost illegible.Furthermore, for most of the book every fourth page seems to have a piece of transparent plastic over the top half of the page which distorts it.

A few image problems would have been forgivable, but the consistency and level of bluriness makes this quite a chore to read.The only thing this book really has going for it is that it is pretty cheap, nonetheless I would recommend finding a different edition.I am going to try the 1990 Chicago Univ Press edition, because I trust them to do a better job of quality control. ... Read more