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LeviathanThomas Hobbes

Leviathan

by OpenStories

Original author: Thomas Hobbes

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"Leviathan" by Thomas Hobbes is a philosophical treatise published in 1651. Written during the English Civil War, it explores the structure of society and legitimate government through social contract theory. Hobbes argues that humanity's natural state is a brutal "war of all against all," driven by individual appetites and the fear of violent death. Only a strong, absolute sovereign can prevent civil war and chaos by uniting both secular and spiritual power. This influential work presents a materialistic view of human nature and political order.

Leviathan, by Thomas Hobbes. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #3207.

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52 Chapters

  1. 1.Front Matter934 words
  2. 2.Introduction: 1. of Sense1,207 words
  3. 3.Chapter I: Of Sense679 words
  4. 4.Chapter II: Of Imagination2,213 words
  5. 5.Chapter III: Of the Consequence or Trayne of Imaginations1,848 words
  6. 6.Chapter IV: Of Speech3,221 words
  7. 7.Chapter V: Of Reason, and Science2,565 words
  8. 8.Chapter VI: Of the Interiour Beginnings of Voluntary Motions3,590 words
  9. 9.Chapter VII: Of the Ends or Resolutions of Discourse1,225 words
  10. 10.Chapter VIII: Of the Vertues Commonly Called Intellectual; and Their4,182 words
  11. 11.Chapter IX: Of the Severall Subjects of Knowledge538 words
  12. 12.Chapter X: Of Power, Worth, Dignity, Honour and Worthiness2,992 words
  13. 13.Chapter XI: Of the Difference of Manners2,664 words
  14. 14.Chapter XII: Of Religion4,607 words
  15. 15.Chapter XIII: Of the Naturall Condition of Mankind,1,809 words
  16. 16.Chapter XIV: Of the First and Second Naturall Lawes, and of Contracts4,294 words
  17. 17.Chapter XV: Of Other Lawes of Nature5,108 words
  18. 18.Chapter XVI: Of Persons, Authors, and Things Personated1,604 words
  19. 19.Chapter XVII: Of the Causes, Generation, and Definition of a1,748 words
  20. 20.Chapter XVIII: Of the Rights of Soveraignes by Institution3,537 words
  21. 21.Chapter XIX: Of the Severall Kinds of Common-Wealth by Institution,3,931 words
  22. 22.Chapter XX: Of Dominion Paternall and Despoticall3,282 words
  23. 23.Chapter XXI: Of the Liberty of Subjects4,173 words
  24. 24.Chapter XXII: Of Systemes Subject, Politicall, and Private4,685 words
  25. 25.Chapter XXIII: Of the Publique Ministers of Soveraign Power1,716 words
  26. 26.Chapter XXIV: Of the Nutrition, and Procreation of a Common-Wealth2,364 words
  1. 27.Chapter XXV: Of Counsell2,889 words
  2. 28.Chapter XXVI: Of CIVILL Lawes7,992 words
  3. 29.Chapter XXVII: Of Crimes, Excuses, and Extenuations5,676 words
  4. 30.Chapter XXVIII: Of Punishments, and Rewards3,160 words
  5. 31.Chapter XXIX: Of Those Things That Weaken, or Tend to the Dissolution of4,047 words
  6. 32.Chapter XXX: Of the Office of the Soveraign Representative6,106 words
  7. 33.Chapter XXXI: Of the Kingdome of God by Nature4,240 words
  8. 34.Chapter XXXII: Of the Principles of Christian Politiques1,980 words
  9. 35.Chapter XXXIII: Of the Number, Antiquity, Scope, Authority, and4,241 words
  10. 36.Chapter XXXIV: Of the Signification of Spirit, Angel, and Inspiration in4,744 words
  11. 37.Chapter XXXV: Of the Signification in Scripture of Kingdome of God, of3,011 words
  12. 38.Chapter XXXVI: Of the Word of God, and of Prophets6,265 words
  13. 39.Chapter XXXVII: Of Miracles, and Their Use2,998 words
  14. 40.Chapter XXXVIII: Of the Signification in Scripture of Eternall Life,6,197 words
  15. 41.Chapter XXXIX: Of the Signification in Scripture of the Word Church959 words
  16. 42.Chapter XL: Of the Rights of the Kingdome of God, in Abraham, Moses,4,284 words
  17. 43.Chapter XLI: Of the Office of Our Blessed Saviour3,091 words
  18. 44.Chapter XLII: Of Power Ecclesiasticall (1)8,845 words
  19. 45.Chapter XLII: Of Power Ecclesiasticall (2)8,632 words
  20. 46.Chapter XLII: Of Power Ecclesiasticall (3)8,607 words
  21. 47.Chapter XLII: Of Power Ecclesiasticall (4)3,257 words
  22. 48.Chapter XLIII: Of What Is Necessary for a Mans Reception Into the5,936 words
  23. 49.Chapter XLIV: Of Spirituall Darknesse From Misinterpretation of10,296 words
  24. 50.Chapter XLV: Of Daemonology, and Other Reliques of the Religion of the8,098 words
  25. 51.Chapter XLVI: Of Darknesse From Vain Philosophy, and Fabulous Traditions7,165 words
  26. 52.Chapter XLVII: Of the Benefit That Proceedeth From Such Darknesse, and7,394 words