Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil by Thomas Hobbes

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32 Episodes

  1. 00 – Introduction

    Published: 1/2/2024

  2. 01 – Of Sense

    Published: 1/1/2024

  3. 02 – Of Imagination

    Published: 12/31/2023

  4. 03 – Of the Consequence or Train of Imaginations

    Published: 12/30/2023

  5. 04 – Of Speech

    Published: 12/29/2023

  6. 05 – Of Reason and Science

    Published: 12/28/2023

  7. 06 – Of the Interior Beginnings of Voluntary Motions, Commonly Called the Passions; and the Speeches by Which They are Expressed

    Published: 12/27/2023

  8. 07 – Of the Ends or Resolutions of Discourse

    Published: 12/26/2023

  9. 08 – Of the Virtues Commonly Called Intellectual; and their Contrary Defects

    Published: 12/25/2023

  10. 09 – Of the Several Subjects of Knowledge

    Published: 12/24/2023

  11. 10 – Of Power,Worth,Dignity, Honour and Worthiness

    Published: 12/23/2023

  12. 11 – Of the Difference of Manners

    Published: 12/22/2023

  13. 12 – Of Religion

    Published: 12/21/2023

  14. 13 – Of the Natural Condition of Mankind as Concerning Their Felicity and Misery

    Published: 12/20/2023

  15. 14 – Of the First and Second Natural Laws, and of Contracts

    Published: 12/19/2023

  16. 15 – Of Other Laws of Nature

    Published: 12/18/2023

  17. 16 – Of Persons, Authors, and Things Personated

    Published: 12/17/2023

  18. 17 – Of the Causes, Generation, and Definition of a Commonwealth

    Published: 12/16/2023

  19. 18 – Of the Rights of Sovereigns by Institution

    Published: 12/15/2023

  20. 19 – Of the Several Kinds of Commonwealth by Institution, and of Succession to the Sovereign Power

    Published: 12/14/2023

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Books 1 and 2. Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil is a book written in 1651 by Thomas Hobbes. The book concerns the structure of society (as represented figuratively by the frontispiece, showing the state giant made up of individuals). In the book, Hobbes argues for a social contract and rule by a sovereign. Influenced by the English Civil War, 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. He thus denied any right of rebellion toward the social contract. However, Hobbes did discuss the possible dissolution of the State. Since the social contract was made to institute a state that would provide for the “peace and defense” of the people, the contract would become void as soon as the government no longer protected its citizens. By virtue of this fact, man would automatically return to the state of nature until a new contract is made.