Table of Contents

Acknowledgments; A note on references; Introduction; 1. The standard philosophical interpretation; 2. Hobbes's compositive reconstruction, phase one: identification of the principle of political obligation; 3. Compositive reconstruction, phase two: religion and the redescription of transcendent interests; 4. Hobbes's mechanism for the reproduction of social stability; 5. Hobbes's resolutive analysis, phase two: part 4 of Leviathan; 6. Theory in practice: Leviathan and Behemoth; 7. Hobbes's resolutive analysis, phase one: design and detail; 8. The treatment of transcendent interests; 9. Hobbes's absolutism; Notes; Index.

Promotional Information

A radical reinterpretation of Hobbes's Leviathan, focusing on that part of it devoted to religion.

Reviews

"...refreshingly original...a brilliant reading of Hobbes, rigorously argued and tightly written. It deserves to revolutionize the study of Hobbes' political theory." International Studies in Philosophy "For those who want to understand what Hobbes's political theory is, this will be the book to consult." Alan Donagan, California Institute of Technology "The Hobbes scholarship is admirable, the writing is clear, and the quality of argument is uniformly high. Most importantly, Lloyd presents a genuinely original interpretation of Hobbes and meticulously constructs a very plausible argument in support of that interpretation." Greg Kavka, University of California, Irvine "A rich and powerful book with an extremely intriguing thesis." Choice "...this is a brilliant reading of Hobbes, rigorously argued and tightly written. It deserves to revolutionize the study of Hobbes' political theory." International Studies in Philosophy