Leviathan
By: Thomas Hobbes ; edited with an introduction by J.C.A. Gaskin.
Contributors: Gaskin, J. C. A.
Series: The world's classics
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 1996
Place of publication: Oxford; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 508
Subjects: Political science -- Early works to 1800.; State, The.
Description: Leviathan is both a magnificent literary achievement and the greatest work of political philosophy in the English language. Permanently challenging, it has found new applications and new refutations in every generation. Hobbes argues that human beings are first and foremost concerned with their own individual desires and 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, and return us to the state of war.

. This new edition reproduces the first printed text, retaining the original punctuation but modernizing the spelling, and incorporating the corrections found in the best copies. It offers exceptionally thorough and useful annotation, and introduction that guides the reader through the complexities of Hobbes's arguments, and a substantial index.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. l-lii) and index. The first printing of this edition was issued with an Errata slip measuring 4.5 x 2.1 inches and printed on the same quality of paper as that used for the text; this was loosely inserted.