Hobbes: Leviathan 1 and 2

by Herbert Wallace Schneider

Presents the seventeenth century treatise on power and politics

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Classics, Politics

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1651

Reviews

[Ben Harrington · Rating 3 out of 5]

His conversation around Sovereignty is dated for sure but is the foundation that Locke and Rousseau critique (as well as others down stream). The representation of it as a being was a good step forward in providing language/metaphor to discuss these concepts.

Unlike Locke, Hobbes writes out his understanding of natural laws which I think also provide interesting insight and a basis for formulating our own understanding of the natural state and later critiques of the concept from folks like Rawls.

Not a long book so worth a read IMO if you’re interested in social contract theory as it ties Locke and Rousseau together in their critiques.

[Christopher Hellstrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio version...nasty, brutish and not so short

[Saul Goodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cool

[Jaidyn Spath · Rating 3 out of 5]

“i keep telling you people, democracy doesn’t work!!”

[tasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

could shorten this to a "yeah bro democracy sucks so let's make our country authoritarian. oh and btw even if the sovereign sucks as well, you cannot overthrow him lol"
liked the first part only

[Datsun · Rating 2 out of 5]

"I keep telling you people, Democracy doesn't work!"

Well reasoned, but by turns insulting and depressing. Unless, of course, you happen to be a reigning monarch. Then it's probably the feel-good read of the year.