Leviathan
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Leviathan
Pre-order for $45.57
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Narrated by:
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Malk Williams
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By:
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Thomas Hobbes
About this listen
‘The life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.'
Originally published in 1651, Leviathan is a hugely influential work of political philosophy, and is still widely read and studied to this day.
Written during the English Civil War, of which Hobbes had first-hand experience, Leviathan argues for political rule by an absolute authority. Hobbes claimed that human nature was, at its core, ruthless and brutal: people were selfish, self-interested and likely to cause conflict for one another. In order to combat this chaos, individuals ought to submit to a sovereign – a ‘Leviathan’ – in exchange for order, security and peace. A powerful argument which lay the groundwork for modern social contract theory, Leviathan has influenced government structure across the world.
Thomas Hobbes (1588 – 1679) was an English philosopher, scientist and historian. He is best known for his book, Leviathan, in which he pioneers a new interpretation of social contract theory. Although a controversial figure during his life, his work has profoundly influenced our understanding of political philosophy and, more broadly, human nature.
Public Domain (P)2025 SNR Audio