'He that is to govern a whole Nation, must read inÂhimself, not this, or that particular man; but Man-kind.' Thomas Hobbes's
LeviathanÂis not just one of the greatest philosophicalÂtexts in the English language; it is one of the most important works in theÂhistory of Western political thought. Almost every major tradition in theÂcenturies after Hobbes - from radical democracy to authoritarianism - hasÂbeen influenced by its arguments. Written in exile in a period of dramaticÂdevelopments - civil war and regicide -
LeviathanÂis in some ways theÂproduct of its own special circumstances. And yet, at the same time, Âit deals with fundamental issues that matter to all of us today: the natureÂand purpose of the state, the relation between human nature and politics, Âthe idea of natural rights, the justification of authority, the concept ofÂrepresentation, the nature of sovereignty, the limits of obedience, andÂthe relationship between religious obligations and human ones.
This new edition offers a definitive text drawn from more than twentyÂyears of research by Noel Malcolm, including, in English translation, allÂthe most significant revisions made in Hobbes's later Latin translation of
Leviathan, as well as extensive explanatory notes that elucidate Hobbes'sÂlanguage and identify the many Biblical, classical, and other allusionsÂthat are scattered through his text.
