Leviathan Study Guide

Leviathan Summary

Hobbes' Leviathan is divided into four parts: 1) of man, 2) of commonwealth, 3) of a Christian commonwealth, and 4) of the Kingdom of Darkness. His overall project is to explain by what reasons a commonwealth may govern men, and then to establish the best possible way for this government to function in order to accommodate the desires of its denizens.

Part One begins naturally with man, for Hobbes believes that the commonwealth is nothing but an "artificial man." Beginning his argument at the most basic level, he argues that man exists in the external world as a reactive creature that senses objects and is driven to act by the constant motions of the world. These constant motions lead to man's constant and insatiable desires and wants, which…

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Recent Questions for Leviathan

Posted By ciporah f #185749 at May 16, 2011 12:43 AM

what are the prejudices of the author

Thomas Hobbes

Leviathan | Answers: 1

Posted By harry t #65542 at Oct 18, 2008 6:32 PM

what exactly is a leviathan

does anyone know the origin of the term and what it means?

Leviathan | Answers: 1