Leviathan

Product Description

He that is to govern a whole nation must read in himself not this or that particular man; but mankind. Leviathan is both a magnificent literary achievement & the greatest work of political philosophy in the English language. Permanently challenging it has found new applications & new refutations in every generation. Hobbes argues that human beings are first & foremost concerned with their own individual desires & fears. He shows that a conflict of each against every man can only be avoided by the adoption of a compact to enforce peace. The compact involves giving up some of our natural freedom to a sovereign power which will enforce the laws of peace on all citizens. Hobbes also analyses the subversive forces
- religion ambition private conscience
- that threaten to destroy the body politic Leviathan itself & return us to the state of war. This new edition reproduces the first printed text retaining the original punctuation but modernizing the spelling. It offers exceptionally thorough & useful annotation an introduction that guides the reader through the complexities of Hobbess arguments & a substantial index. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford Worlds Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxfords commitment to scholarship providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features including expert introductions by leading authorities helpful notes to clarify the text up-to-date bibliographies for further study & much more.