Leviathan (Books I and II)

Thomas Hobbes (1588 - 1679)

Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil, commonly called Leviathan, is a book written in 1651 by Thomas Hobbes. It is titled after the biblical Leviathan. The book concerns the structure of society (as represented figuratively by the frontispiece, showing the state giant made up of individuals), as is evidenced by the full title. In the book, Thomas 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. Summary from Wikipedia.

Genre(s): Political Science, Early Modern

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 Introduction Carl Manchester
00:08:28
Play 01 I - Of Sense Carl Manchester
00:04:46
Play 02 II - Of Imagination Carl Manchester
00:13:43
Play 03 III - Of the Consequence or Train of Imaginations Carl Manchester
00:12:15
Play 04 IV - Of Speech hugh mac
00:23:39
Play 05 V - Of Reason and Science Anna Simon
00:15:21
Play 06 VI - Of the Interior Beginnings of Voluntary Motions, Commonly Called the Passions; and the Speeches by Which They are Expressed Sibella Denton
00:23:50
Play 07 VII - Of the Ends or Resolutions of Discourse Gesine
00:10:04
Play 08 VIII - Of the Virtues Commonly Called Intellectual; and Their Contrary Defects Darren L. Slider
00:24:20
Play 09 IX - Of the Several Subjects of Knowledge Carl Manchester
00:05:34
Play 10 X - Of Power, Worth, Dignity, Honour and Worthiness hefyd
00:22:20
Play 11 XI - Of the Difference of Manners hefyd
00:17:21
Play 12 XII - Of Religion Leon Mire
00:28:07
Play 13 XIII - Of the Natural Condition of Mankind as Concerning Their Felicity and Misery D.E. Wittkower
00:14:03
Play 14 XIV - Of the First and Second Natural Laws, and of Contracts D.E. Wittkower
00:33:54
Play 15 XV - Of Other Laws of Nature D.E. Wittkower
00:41:51
Play 16 XVI - Of Persons, Authors, and Things Personated D.E. Wittkower
00:13:52
Play 17 XVII - Of the Causes, Generation, and Definition of a Commonwealth Anna Simon
00:10:50
Play 18 XVIII - Of the Rights of Sovereigns by Institution Anna Simon
00:21:05
Play 19 XIX - Of the Several Kinds of Commonwealth by Institution, and of Succession to the Sovereign Power Anna Simon
00:24:50
Play 20 XX - Of Dominion Paternal and Despotical Nikki Sullivan
00:20:50
Play 21 XXI - Of the Liberty of Subjects Kirsten Ferreri
00:24:15
Play 22 XXII - Of Systems Subject, Political and Private Leon Mire
00:30:41
Play 23 XXIII - Of the Public Ministers of Sovereign Power Arouet
00:10:22
Play 24 XXIV - Of the Nutrition and Procreation of a Commonwealth Anna Simon
00:14:10
Play 25 XXV - Of Counsel Anna Simon
00:18:20
Play 26 XXVI - Of Civil Laws Sibella Denton
00:46:43
Play 27 XXVII - Of Crimes, Excuses, and Extenuations Smokey B.
00:43:45
Play 28 XXVIII - Of Punishments and Rewards Ransom
00:21:31
Play 29 XXIX - Of Those Things that Weaken or Tend to the Dissolution of a Commonwealth Cicorée
00:28:05
Play 30 XXX - Of the Office of the Sovereign Representative Nicholas James Bridgewater
00:37:12
Play 31 XXXI - Of the Kingdom of God by Nature Leon Mire
00:27:10