Hobbes's Political Philosophy: Interpretation and Interpretations

According to Thomas Hobbes, humans require a government to protect them from loneliness, poverty, brutality, and a short life. He contended that people create governments by entering into a contract with a sovereign to govern themselves. His arguments are powerful, yet frequently unpalatable, and he believed that government should be constrained to prevent tyranny. A.P. Martinich's Political Philosophy: Interpretation and Interpretations seeks to clarify Hobbes's positions by examining what he considered a science of politics, a set of timeless truths grounded in definitions. He argues that Hobbes had two timebound projects: to distinguish science from religion and understand Christianity as essentially belief in the literal meaning of the Bible, and to show that Christianity is not politically destabilizing by appealing to biblical teachings. This new interpretation of Hobbes's work will be of interest to philosophers interested in the history of philosophy, political philosophy, theology, and moral philosophy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 25 October 2021
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

The renowned English political philosopher, Thomas Hobbes, posited that human beings require governance to safeguard their lives from the pitfalls of solitude, poverty, squalor, brutishness, and brevity. To establish governments, individuals enter into a contractual agreement with one another, delegating their authority to a sovereign who governs them. Essentially, government is an artificial construct, contrary to the inherent nature of human beings. Hobbes' arguments are compelling, yet often deemed unacceptable. For instance, few individuals subscribe to Hobbes' assertion that the government's authority is boundless. It is imperative for government to be constrained in some manner, such as through a system of checks and balances, to prevent the emergence of tyranny. Determining the precise errors in Hobbes' thinking is challenging, yet it also sheds light on the essence of governance. Hobbes' Political Philosophy: Interpretation and Interpretations seeks to elucidate Hobbes' positions by exploring what he regarded as a science of politics, a body of timeless truths rooted in definitions. A.P. Martinich delves into this science of politics, examining Hobbes' perspectives on natural laws, authorization and representation, sovereignty by acquisition, and other key concepts. He argues that in addition to the enduring science, Hobbes undertook two time-bound projects. The first was to resolve the apparent contradiction between the new science of Copernicus and Galileo and traditional Christian doctrine by distinguishing science from religion and comprehending Christianity as essentially belief in the literal interpretation of the Bible. The second was to demonstrate that Christianity does not pose a political threat by appealing to biblical teachings such as "Servants, obey your masters," and "All authority comes from God." In analyzing Hobbes' political philosophy, Martinich provides a comprehensive overview of his historical context and influences.

Weight: 592g
Dimension: 165 x 245 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197531716