Leviathan (Books III and IV)

Written by Thomas Hobbes

Narrated by LibriVox Community

In Books 3 and 4 of Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes elaborates on the political philosophy set forth in the first two books, by considering the nature of a Christian commonwealth. Book 3 begins with a wealth of biblical scholarship, directed at establishing the authority of Scripture while at the same time undermining modern claims to supernatural revelation that would subvert civil law. Hobbes concludes that we cannot be sure of anyone else's divine revelation, and that religious authority is therefore subordinate to civil power. Book 4, titled “Of the Kingdom of Darkness,” sets forth the various ways in which Scripture has been misinterpreted by the church, according to Hobbes, in mixing pagan elements with Christianity.
(Summary adapted from Wikipedia by Leon Mire)

• Language: English
• Publisher: LibriVox
• Release date: Aug 25, 2014

Thomas Hobbes

Thomas Hobbes was an English translator, author, and philosopher. Considered to be one of the founders of modern political philosophy, Hobbes worked as a tutor while he first studied the subject. Witnessing political turmoil throughout his life, including a civil war and the Restoration period, Hobbes began to publish his theories. Because some of his work was perceived to promote atheism, which was illegal in his time, Hobbes gained a reputation of infamy. However, because the young king in power, Charles Ⅱ, had been one of the students Hobbes tutored, he offered Hobbes a pension fund and protected his work, allowing his influence to spread for centuries.