Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes (general ebook reader txt) 📖

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Title: Leviathan

 

Author: Thomas Hobbes

 

Release Date: May, 2002 [EBook #3207]

[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]

[This file was first posted on July 2, 2002]

 

Edition: 10

 

Language: English

 

Character set encoding: ASCII

 

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, LEVIATHAN ***

 

Produced by:

 

Edward White^M

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Notes on the E-Text.

This E-text was prepared from the Pelican Classics edition of Leviathan, which in turn was prepared from the first edition. I have tried to follow as closely as possible the original, and to give the flavour of the text that Hobbes himself proofread, but the following differences were unavoidable.

 

Hobbes used capitals and italics very extensively, for emphasis, for proper names, for quotations, and sometimes, it seems, just because.

 

The original has very extensive margin notes, which are used to show where he introduces the definitions of words and concepts, to give in short the subject that a paragraph or section is dealing with, and to give references to his quotations, largely but not exclusively biblical.

To some degree, these margin notes seem to have been intended to serve in place of an index, the original having none. They are all in italics.

 

He also used italics for words in other languages than English, and there are a number of Greek words, in the Greek alphabet, in the text.

 

To deal with these within the limits of plain vanilla ASCII, I have done the following in this E-text.

 

I have restricted my use of full capitalization to those places where Hobbes used it, except in the chapter headings, which I have fully capitalized, where Hobbes used a mixture of full capitalization and italics.

 

Where it is clear that the italics are to indicate the text is quoting, I have introduced quotation marks. Within quotation marks I have retained the capitalization that Hobbes used.

 

Where italics seem to be used for emphasis, or for proper names, or just because, I have capitalized the initial letter of the words.

This has the disadvantage that they are not then distinguished from those that Hobbes capitalized in plain text, but the extent of his italics would make the text very ugly if I was to use an underscore or slash.

 

Where the margin notes are either to introduce the paragraph subject, or to show where he introduces word definitions, I have included them as headers to the paragraph, again with all words having initial capitals, and on a shortened line.

 

For margin references to quotes, I have included them in the text, in brackets immediately next to the quotation. Where Hobbes included references in the main text, I have left them as he put them, except to change his square brackets to round.

 

For the Greek alphabet, I have simply substituted the nearest ordinary letters that I can, and I have used initial capitals for foreign language words.

 

Neither Thomas Hobbes nor his typesetters seem to have had many inhibitions about spelling and punctuation. I have tried to reproduce both exactly, with the exception of the introduction of quotation marks.

 

In preparing the text, I have found that it has much more meaning if I read it with sub-vocalization, or aloud, rather than trying to read silently. Hobbes’ use of emphasis and his eccentric punctuation and construction seem then to work.

 

Edward White edwud@telus.net

Canada Day 2002

 

1651

LEVIATHAN

by Thomas Hobbes LEVIATHAN

OR

THE MATTER, FORME, & POWER

OF A COMMON-WEALTH

ECCLESIASTICAL

AND

CIVILL

 

By Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury.

 

Printed for Andrew Crooke,

at the Green Dragon

in St. Paul’s Churchyard, 1651.

 

TO

MY MOST HONOR’D FRIEND

Mr. FRANCIS GODOLPHIN

of GODOLPHIN

 

HONOR’D SIR.

 

Your most worthy Brother Mr SIDNEY GODOLPHIN, when he lived, was pleas’d to think my studies something, and otherwise to oblige me, as you know, with reall testimonies of his good opinion, great in themselves, and the greater for the worthinesse of his person.

For there is not any vertue that disposeth a man, either to the service of God, or to the service of his Country, to Civill Society, or private Friendship, that did not manifestly appear in his conversation, not as acquired by necessity, or affected upon occasion, but inhaerent, and shining in a generous constitution of his nature.

Therefore in honour and gratitude to him, and with devotion to your selfe, I humbly Dedicate unto you this my discourse of Commonwealth.

I know not how the world will receive it, nor how it may reflect on those that shall seem to favour it. For in a way beset with those that contend on one side for too great Liberty, and on the other side for too much Authority, ‘tis hard to passe between the points of both unwounded.

But yet, me thinks, the endeavour to advance the Civill Power, should not be by the Civill Power condemned; nor private men, by reprehending it, declare they think that Power too great. Besides, I speak not of the men, but (in the Abstract) of the Seat of Power, (like to those simple and unpartiall creatures in the Roman Capitol, that with their noyse defended those within it, not because they were they, but there) offending none, I think, but those without, or such within (if there be any such) as favour them. That which perhaps may most offend, are certain Texts of Holy Scripture, alledged by me to other purpose than ordinarily they use to be by others. But I have done it with due submission, and also (in order to my Subject) necessarily; for they are the Outworks of the Enemy, from whence they impugne the Civill Power.

If notwithstanding this, you find my labour generally decryed, you may be pleased to excuse your selfe, and say that I am a man that love my own opinions, and think all true I say, that I honoured your Brother, and honour you, and have presum’d on that, to assume the Title (without your knowledge) of being, as I am, Sir,

 

Your most humble, and most obedient servant, Thomas Hobbes.

 

Paris APRILL 15/25 1651.

 

THE CONTENTS OF THE CHAPTERS

 

THE FIRST PART

 

OF MAN

INTRODUCTION

1. OF SENSE

 

2. OF IMAGINATION

 

3. OF THE CONSEQUENCES OR TRAIN OF IMAGINATIONS

 

4. OF SPEECH

 

5. OF REASON AND SCIENCE

 

6. OF THE INTERIOUR BEGINNINGS OF VOLUNTARY MOTIONS, COMMONLY CALLED

THE PASSIONS; AND THE SPEECHES BY WHICH THEY ARE EXPRESSED

 

7. OF THE ENDS OR RESOLUTIONS OF DISCOURSE

 

8. OF THE VERTUES, COMMONLY CALLED INTELLECTUALL, AND THEIR

CONTRARY DEFECTS

 

9. OF THE SEVERALL SUBJECTS OF KNOWLEDGE

 

10. OF POWER, WORTH, DIGNITY, HONOUR, AND WORTHINESSE

 

11.OF THE DIFFERENCE OF MANNERS

 

12. OF RELIGION

 

13. OF THE NATURALL CONDITION OF MANKIND AS CONCERNING THEIR

FELICITY AND MISERY

 

14. OF THE FIRST AND SECOND NATURALL LAWES, AND OF CONTRACT

 

15. OF OTHER LAWES OF NATURE

 

16. OF PERSONS, AUTHORS, AND THINGS PERSONATED

 

THE SECOND PART

 

OF COMMON-WEALTH

 

17. OF THE CAUSES, GENERATION, AND DEFINITION OF A COMMON-WEALTH

 

18. OF THE RIGHTS OF SOVERAIGNES BY INSTITUTION

 

19. OF SEVERALL KINDS OF COMMON-WEALTH BY INSTITUTION; AND OF

SUCCESION TO THE SOVERAIGN POWER

 

20. OF DOMINION PATERNALL, AND DESPOTICALL

 

21. OF THE LIBERTY OF SUBJECTS

 

22. OF SYSTEMES SUBJECT, POLITICALL, AND PRIVATE

 

23. OF THE PUBLIQUE MINISTERS OF SOVERAIGN POWER

 

24. OF THE NUTRITION, AND PROCREATION OF A COMMON-WEALTH

 

25. OF COUNSELL

 

26. OF CIVILL LAWES

 

27. OF CRIMES, EXCUSES, AND EXTENUATIONS

 

28. OF PUNISHMENTS, AND REWARDS

 

29. OF THOSE THINGS THAT WEAKEN, OR TEND TO THE DISSOLUTION OF

A COMMON-WEALTH

 

30. OF THE OFFICE OF THE SOVERAIGN REPRESENTATIVE

 

31. OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD BY NATURE

 

THE THIRD PART

 

OF A CHRISTIAN COMMON-WEALTH

 

32. OF THE PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIAN POLITIQUES

 

33. OF THE NUMBER, ANTIQUITY, SCOPE, AUTHORITY, AND INTERPRETERS

OF THE BOOKS OF HOLY SCRIPTURE.

 

34. OF THE SIGNIFICATION, OF SPIRIT, ANGELL, AND INSPIRATION

IN THE BOOKS OF HOLY SCRIPTURE

 

35. OF THE SIGNIFICATION IN SCRIPTURE OF THE KINGDOME OF GOD, OF HOLY, SACRED, AND SACRAMENT

 

36. OF THE WORD OF GOD, AND OF PROPHETS

 

37. OF MIRACLES, AND THEIR USE

 

38. OF THE SIGNIFICATION IN SCRIPTURE OF ETERNALL LIFE, HEL, SALVATION, THE WORLD TO COME, AND REDEMPTION

 

39. OF THE SIGNIFICATION IN SCRIPTURE OF THE WORD CHURCH

 

40. OF THE RIGHTS OF THE KINGDOME OF GOD, IN ABRAHAM, MOSES, THE HIGH PRIESTS, AND THE KINGS OF JUDAH

 

41. OF THE OFFICE OF OUR BLESSED SAVIOUR

 

42. OF POWER ECCLESIASTICALL

 

43. OF WHAT IS NECESSARY FOR MANS RECEPTION INTO THE KINGDOME OF HEAVEN

 

THE FOURTH PART

 

OF THE KINGDOME OF DARKNESSE

 

44. OF SPIRITUALL DARKNESSE FROM MISINTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE

 

45. OF DAEMONOLOGY, AND OTHER RELIQUES OF THE RELIGION OF THE GENTILES

 

46. OF DARKNESSE FROM VAINE PHILOSOPHY, AND FABULOUS TRADITIONS

 

47. OF THE BENEFIT PROCEEDING FROM SUCH DARKNESSE; AND TO WHOM

IT ACCREWETH

 

48. A REVIEW AND CONCLUSION

 

THE INTRODUCTION

 

Nature (the art whereby God hath made and governes the world) is by the art of man, as in many other things, so in this also imitated, that it can make an Artificial Animal. For seeing life is but a motion of Limbs, the begining whereof is in some principall part within; why may we not say, that all Automata (Engines that move themselves by springs and wheeles as doth a watch) have an artificiall life?

For what is the Heart, but a Spring; and the Nerves, but so many Strings; and the Joynts, but so many Wheeles, giving motion to the whole Body, such as was intended by the Artificer? Art goes yet further, imitating that Rationall and most excellent worke of Nature, Man.

For by Art is created that great LEVIATHAN called a COMMON-WEALTH, or STATE, (in latine CIVITAS) which is but an Artificiall Man; though of greater stature and strength than the Naturall, for whose protection and defence it was intended; and in which, the Soveraignty is an Artificiall Soul, as giving life and motion to the whole body; The Magistrates, and other Officers of Judicature and Execution, artificiall Joynts; Reward and Punishment (by