Description: Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes. Introduced by Alan Ryan. 12 black & white illustrations by Mike Wilks. Bound in buckram blocked with artwork by Neil Gower from a design from Mike Wilks. 592pp. 10×6¼in. The philosopher Thomas Hobbes understood the devastation caused by the English Civil War and was determined to construct a blueprint for a peaceful society. He began his task by trying to explain the nature of human beings, the state and civilisation. Morality, he considered, was a physical, not a spiritual attribute, proceeding from our sense of self preservation. Anarchy decreases our chances of survival and to avoid this, he explains, we must give up a portion of our freedom to a ruling authority, be it a sovereign or Commonwealth (the Leviathan of the title). The sovereign’s power stems from this self-interested agreement: while his subject cannot overthrow him, he has no divine right.It is no surprise that with such arguments Hobbes made enemies on both sides of the Civil War. The Commonwealth objected to his assertion that benign monarchy was the best form of government, while royalists denounced Hobbes as a revolutionary. Hobbes’s conviction that religious power was subordinate to civil authority infuriated Puritans and Catholics alike, both of whom labelled him an atheist. His work was lauded and condemned throughout Europe, and its influence has echoed down the centuries. Published in 1651, Leviathan is the foundation stone on which modern political philosophy is built: the concept of a social contract is drawn from it, while Hobbes’s assertion that loss of liberty is a price worth paying for peace has aroused new applications and refutations in every generation. Please look closely at the photos as they are part of the description. Will wrap and pack very carefully. Will post worldwide. Any questions please ask. In the unlikely event you do encounter a problem, please do message me first to resolve it, and I will do my best to help.All the books are stored in our smoke-free, climate-controlled shop in Surbiton, London.
Price: 99.99 GBP
Location: Surbiton, Surrey
End Time: 2025-01-10T12:59:24.000Z
Shipping Cost: 26.49 GBP
Product Images
Item Specifics
Return postage will be paid by: Seller
Returns Accepted: Returns Accepted
After receiving the item, your buyer should cancel the purchase within: 60 days
Binding: Fine Binding
Place of Publication: London
Non-Fiction Subject: Philosophy
Illustrator: Mike Wilks
Special Attributes: 1st Edition, Illustrated, Luxury Edition
Author: Thomas Hobbes
Publisher: Folio Society
Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom
Weight: 2kg
Year Printed: 2012
