Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes
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About this Public Domain Book
This full text of Leviathan has entered the public domain in the UK and is now freely available. It may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted without any restrictions. We are providing it for free distribution and use by individuals for non-commercial purposes. Please note that the copyright status in other countries may vary, so it is advisable to check the copyright laws of your specific jurisdiction before reproducing, distributing, or transmitting the text.
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First published: April 1651
Number of Words: 219,000
Avg. Time to Read: 15 - 20 hours
Description:
Leviathan was published in 1651 in England during a time of great civil unrest and war following the English Civil War between Parliament and the monarch. Hobbes had lived through the terror of this war himself and it deeply influenced the writing of his masterwork. In Leviathan, Hobbes sought to outline a rational system of thought on politics and the proper relationship between the governed and their government. He believed humans in a “state of nature”, without centralized power, would be engaged in a chaotic “war of all against all”.
The central thesis of Leviathan was Hobbes’ social contract theory which argued rational individuals would consent to formation of a sovereign authority to which they would give up rights in exchange for security and peace. Hobbes argued this was the only way to escape the danger and violence of the natural condition. Within Leviathan he explored ideas around representation, authority and the proper responsibilities of government. His concepts of the Leviathan, the artificial man created by aggregation of individuals, through whom sovereign power is wielded, was profoundly original and influential.
Leviathan caused major controversy upon its publication with critics alarmed by Hobbes’ absolutist state. However, it became one of the most important works of political philosophy and contributed to the emergence of modern theories of social science still discussed today. The legacy of Hobbes’ masterwork Leviathan ensured his place as one of the founding thinkers of social contract theory and his analysis of power and the relationship between governors and governed continues to shape discourse on politics, government and society.
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