Leviathan: With Selected Variants from the Latin Edition of 1668 (Hackett Classics)

A masterly examination of the meaning of government, brilliantly relating the political issues (or the body politic) to the human body (with which the examination opens), to give it a universal philosophical appeal that can still exert a valuable influence in our troubled CXXI as it clearly did in the even more troubled 17th century at the time of civil strife and uncertain government. The religious aspect of course dates it, but the editing and commentary is extremely helpful in dealing with this.

Unequivocally essential. Hobbes is one of THE influential figures. His influence on western theory can’t be overstated.

Recommended by UCL Philosophy department: cheap, clear to read, with a great intro!

A classic or liberalism, an attempt to use logic and maths to show why a stable state with a king on top and god over all is the best way to be. Far too windy for my modern thick brain, but as a historical document I can see its worth. I disagree wtih most of his conclusions, but for the 1600s it was ahead of its time. But in the end there's nothing in this for the modern reader except for the pleasure of having said "I've read Leviathan".

It was for my daughter for school. She it was a good book.

El libro está muy nuevo

Highly recommended book

Hobbes wrote in English, so when it comes to English editions, translation is not an issue. For that reason, there are several good English editions of Leviathan out there. But Edwin Curley's, put out by Hackett, is easily among the best. The main reason for this is that it is the only version I am aware of which includes the variants from the Latin edition. Curley's has other benefits too, such as his inclusion of paragraph numbers, which, though it may seem like a minor detail, greatly eases navigation of the text, especially when reading it with other people. He modernizes Hobbes' spellings, which some readers prefer, and some detest. I don't find that it makes a significant difference, IMHO, although sometimes archaic spellings can get distracting. His introduction is also the best for understanding the significance of the Latin edition, and why and how he makes use of it. Look here first for an excellent edition of Hobbes' Leviathan. The two other editions to consider are done by Richard Tuck, for Cambridge ( Hobbes: Leviathan: Revised student edition (Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought) ) and J. C. A. Gaskin, for Oxford ( Leviathan (Oxford World's Classics) ). Of these three, only Tuck retains Hobbes' spelling, which, as mentioned above, is in some ways beneficial, and in some ways confusing--beneficial because it reduces (possibly unwarranted) editorial interpolations, and confusing because modern eyes are not used to it. Gaskin also numbers his paragraphs, and modernizes spelling. Neither incorporate the Latin edition, though both make passing (dismissive) mention of its existence in their introductions. All three can be had without much expense--financial or otherwise--and for serious study it may be worth it to have all three to read alongside each other. If you can only get one, however, get Curley's.

The book comes in great status.