Leviathan

Leviathan is a work of political philosophy in the English language. It has found applications and 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 analyzes 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 edition reproduces the first printed text, retaining the original punctuation but modernizing the spelling. It offers a thorough annotation, and an introduction that guides the reader through the complexities of Hobbes's arguments.