Hobbes's political philosophy

Author: Leo Strauss
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-03-06
Features: A classic study of Hobbes's political philosophy. Hobbes's political philosophy did not stem from the acceptance of natural science, but from his experience and understanding of human nature and morality. Hobbes pioneered modern political philosophy, laying its foundation. Hobbes's political philosophy also clearly expresses a unique assumption of modern Western civilization. This book aims to analyze the principles of Hobbes's political philosophy and its subsequent doctrines. These principles require a new analysis because, in the past few decades, we have gained a deeper understanding of the tradition of political thought. Previously, people could confidently assume, without argument, that the 17th and 18th centuries were the heyday of natural law theory; now, this situation has passed. That view was naturally based on a comparison between political theory in the rationalist era and political theory in the 19th century. Within the scope of this comparison, it is still true; but when we fully take into account the medieval tradition and the classical tradition, it no longer holds water.