Thomas Hobbes is best known for his political philosophy. His Leviathan, published in 1651, is his most famous book with a summary and analysis of the book.
In the opening section of the book, Hobbes defines key concepts such as ‘state of nature’ and ‘natural law’. He also states that the main cause of conflict in human society is self-interest which leads to conflict between people with desires or needs that are incompatible. He further discusses how this state of nature cannot be tolerated for long by either individuals or groups because it means constant fear and uncertainty about one's safety.
Hobbes makes a case for strong central government to ensure peace by making sure common enemies are dealt with easily through unity of will.
Introduction
The Leviathan is a book about the social contract theory. In this book, Hobbes proposed that in order to escape from a state of nature and live in peace, all people must agree to give up some of their natural rights and submit themselves to an absolute sovereign.
The introduction should be very short and informative. The introduction will also generate curiosity for what is coming next in the paper or how it relates to the section topic.
Leviathan: Summary
Leviathan is the second book in Thomas Hobbes' The Leviathan, or, The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil. Published in 1651 after its author's death, it is best known for its account of how humans escape the "state of nature" through social contract theory. It is written in response to John Calvin's doctrine that human beings are fundamentally selfish.
The story begins with the agreement to establish civil society between two people living in a state of nature. One person will act as sovereign who has control over everything except their own life while the other agrees not to interfere with any aspect of sovereign’s life. The sovereign must be someone who has common interests with other people and will not use his powers to serve himself alone but instead will serve the people.
Leviathan: Literary Analysis
It is fair to say my opinion on this book is biased because my professor assigned it and I had to read it for class. This is not a book I would have chosen on my own.
All in all, Leviathan can be seen as a pessimistic view of human nature.
Thomas Hobbes lacked the optimistic belief that people are inherently good and society’s flaws are due to the actions of individuals who follow their own self-interest without regard for others.
Hobbes's view of human nature as being inherently flawed due to our competitive desires, he predicts a future where life will be 'nasty, brutish, and short' as there will be no social order or government to keep us from killing each other.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Leviathan is a mythopoetic and an allegorical work. The abstract and philosophical nature of this work is what makes it so readable and interesting to the readers. We see in this book how humanity can be destroyed by its own ideas and desires.
Hobbes concludes that “for the causes of war are either ambition, or fear, or both; and what is ambitious in one country is often fearful in another.”
This is an example of how Hobbes' argument can be applied to today's society.
The similarities between nations in the past and nations today are astounding.
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