Audiobook: Thomas Hobbes: Leviathan

Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil is a book written in 1651 by Thomas Hobbes. The book concerns the structure of society (as represented figuratively by the frontispiece, showing the state giant made up of individuals). In the book, Hobbes argues for a social contract and rule by a sovereign. Influenced by the English Civil War, Hobbes wrote that chaos or civil war ΓΓé¼ΓÇ£ situations identified with a state of nature and the famous motto bellum omnium contra omnes (ΓΓé¼┬¥the war of all against allΓΓé¼┬¥) ΓΓé¼ΓÇ£ could only be averted by strong central government. He thus denied any right of rebellion toward the social contract. However, Hobbes did discuss the possible dissolution of the State. Since the social contract was made to institute a state that would provide for the ΓΓé¼┼ôpeace and defenseΓΓé¼┬¥ of the people, the contract would become void as soon as the government no longer protected its citizens. By virtue of this fact, man would automatically return to the state of nature until a new contract is made. (Summary from Wikipedia)