Leviathan

Leviathan

By Thomas Hobbes
Michael Caine
Listen with Sir Michael Caine™ and 1,000+ voices
Length21h 59m

About this audiobook

In his seminal work *Leviathan*, Thomas Hobbes presents a compelling examination of human nature and the necessity of social contract theory in establishing a governing authority. Written during the turbulence of the English Civil War, Hobbes employs a precise and systematic style, intricately weaving together philosophy, political theory, and moral reasoning. The book starkly contrasts the state of nature—characterized by chaos and a 'war of all against all'—with the order and security provided by a powerful sovereign, which Hobbes famously likens to a 'Leviathan,' a metaphor for absolute authority that holds society together in a fragile peace. Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) stands as a prominent figure in political philosophy, with *Leviathan* reflecting his belief in the necessity of a strong centralized power. His experiences during the civil strife of his time, coupled with his education and interactions in the court of Charles I, deeply influenced his thoughts on human behavior and governance. Hobbes' pessimistic view of humanity as naturally self-interested and conflict-prone propels his argument for absolute sovereignty, setting the groundwork for modern political theory. *Leviathan* remains an essential read for anyone interested in the roots of political thought and the dynamics of human society. It challenges readers to ponder the balance between freedom and security, making it not only relevant in the context of its time but also a critical text for understanding contemporary political discourse. Hobbes' incisive insights invite thoughtful reflection, ensuring its standing as a cornerstone of philosophical inquiry.

Audiobook details

Rating★★★★ 3.9 (65.7K)
Includes Goodreads, Amazon, LibraryThing, StoryGraph
GenrePolitics and Government
Length21 hrs 59 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateDec 23, 2023
LanguageEnglish

Table of contents

1Introduction
2Introduction
3Chapter I: Of Sense
4Chapter II: Of Imagination
5Chapter III: Of the Consequence or Train of Imaginations
Show all chapters
6Chapter IV: Of Speech
7Chapter V: Of Reason and Science
8Chapter VI: Of the Interior Beginnings of Voluntary Motions, Commonly Called the Passions; and the Speeches by which They are Expressed
9Chapter VII: Of the Ends or Resolutions of Discourse
10Chapter VIII: Of the Virtues Commonly Called Intellectual; and Their Contrary Defects
11Chapter IX: Of the Several Subject of Knowledge
12Chapter X: Of Power, Worth, Dignity, Honour and Worthiness
13Chapter XI: Of the Difference of Manners
14Chapter XII: Of Religion
15Chapter XIII: Of the Natural Condition of Mankind as Concerning Their Felicity and Misery
16Chapter XIV: Of the First and Second Natural Laws, and of Contracts
17Chapter XV: Of Other Laws of Nature
18Chapter XVI: Of Persons, Authors, and Things Personated
19Chapter XVII: Of the Causes, Generation, and Definition of a Commonwealth
20Chapter XVIII: Of the Rights of Sovereigns by Institution
21Chapter XIX: Of the Several Kinds of Commonwealth by Institution, and of Succession to the Sovereign Power
22Chapter XX: Of Dominion Paternal and Despotical
23Chapter XXI: Of the Liberty of Subjects
24Chapter XXII: Of Systems Subject Political and Private
25Chapter XXIII: Of the Public Ministers of Sovereign Power
26Chapter XXIV: Of the Nutrition and Procreation of a Commonwealth
27Chapter XXV: Of Counsel
28Chapter XXVI: Of Civil Laws
29Chapter XXVII: Of Crimes, Excuses, and Extenuations
30Chapter XXVIII: Of Punishments and Rewards
31Chapter XXIX: Of Those Things that Weaken or Tend to the Dissolution of a Commonwealth
32Chapter XXX: Of the Office of the Sovereign Representative
33Chapter XXXI: Of the Kingdom of God by Nature
34Chapter XXXII: Of the Principles of Christian Politics
35Chapter XXXIII: Of the Number, Antiquity, Scope, Authority, and Interpreters of The Books of Holy Scripture
36Chapter XXXIV: Of the Signification of Spirit, Angel, and Inspiration in the Books of Holy Scripture
37Chapter XXXV: Of the Signification in Scripture of Kingdom of God, of Holy, Sacred, and Sacrament
38Chapter XXXVI: Of the Word of God, and of Prophets
39Chapter XXXVII: Of Miracles and Their Use
40Chapter XXXVIII: Of the Signification in Scripture of Eternal Life, Hell, Salvation, the World to Come, and Redemption
41Chapter XXXIX: Of the Signification in Scripture of the Word Church
42Chapter XL: Of the Rights of the Kingdom of God, in Abraham, Moses, the High Priests, and the Kings of Judah
43Chapter XLI: Of the Office of Our Blessed Saviour
44Chapter XLII: Of Power Ecclesiastical (pt. 1)
45Chapter XLII: Of Power Ecclesiastical (pt. 2)
46Chapter XLIII: Of what is Necessary for a Man's Reception into the Kingdom of Heaven
47Chapter XLIV: Of Spiritual Darkness from Misinterpretation of Scripture
48Chapter XLV: Of Demonology and Other Relics of the Religion of the Gentiles
49Chapter XLVI: Of Darkness from Vain Philosophy and Fabulous Traditions
50Chapter XLVII: Of the Benefit that Proceedeth from Such Darkness, and to Whom It Accrueth

More from Thomas Hobbes

Krantikari
KrantikariSanjeev Sanyal11h 44m4.6 (1.3K)$16 · $0.00
Unbroken Bonds of Battle
Unbroken Bonds of BattleJohnny Joey Jones8h 31m4.6 (2.6K)$8 · $0.00
On Democracies and Death Cults
On Democracies and Death CultsDouglas Murray10h 38m4.6 (6.5K)$29 · $0.00
Legally Yours
Legally YoursManasi Chaudhari8h 52m4.7 (223)$29 · $0.00
Balcony Over Jerusalem: A Middle East Memoir - Israel, Palestine and Beyond
Balcony Over Jerusalem: A Middle East Memoir - Israel, Palestine and BeyondJohn Lyons12h 37m4.6 (1.4K)$33 · $0.00
Rigged
RiggedMollie Hemingway12h 48m4.6 (4.2K)$23 · $0.00
The Thomas Sowell Reader
The Thomas Sowell ReaderThomas Sowell14h 51m4.6 (2.3K)$25
Sledgehammer
SledgehammerDavid Friedman8h 21m4.7 (589)$26 · $0.00
So You Want to Talk about Race
So You Want to Talk about RaceIjeoma Oluo7h 41m4.6 (146.2K)$17
Citizenship in a Republic (Annotated)
Citizenship in a Republic (Annotated)Theodore Roosevelt2h 44m4.6 (1.4K)$2 · $0.00
No Escape
No EscapeNury Turkel9h 30m4.6 (809)$28 · $0.00
In Defense of the Second Amendment
In Defense of the Second AmendmentLarry Correia6h 50m4.6 (866)$17
Always Faithful
Always FaithfulThomas Schueman, Zainullah Zaki12h 12m4.6 (977)$29 · $0.00
Unthinkable
UnthinkableJamie Raskin15h 8m4.5 (9.3K)$8 · $0.00
The Manbook
The ManbookNick Freitas5h 43m4.7 (171)$24 · $0.00
My Fourth Time, We Drowned
My Fourth Time, We DrownedSally Hayden13h 59m4.6 (2.9K)$23 · $0.00
A Revolution of Common Sense
A Revolution of Common SenseScott Jennings9h 29m4.6 (528)$29 · $0.00
Statement From the Dock at the Rivonia Trial
Statement From the Dock at the Rivonia TrialNelson Mandela2h 18m4.6 (1.3K)$1 · $0.00
Lessons from the Edge
Lessons from the EdgeMarie Yovanovitch17h 11m4.5 (5.9K)$40 · $0.00
The Essential Works of George Orwell
The Essential Works of George OrwellGeorge Orwell115h 42m4.5 (2.3K)$1 · $0.00

You may also like

Leviathan
LeviathanThomas Hobbes23h 2m3.7 (59.8K)$4 · $0.00
The Elements of Law, Natural and Politic (Annotated)
The Elements of Law, Natural and Politic (Annotated)Thomas Hobbes8h 6m4.0 (553)$2 · $0.00
The Philosophy of Spinoza
The Philosophy of SpinozaBenedictus de Spinoza11h 35m4.3 (1.8K)$1 · $0.00
The Social Contract
The Social ContractJean-Jacques Rousseau10h 49m3.9 (68.7K)$9 · $0.00
THE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH
THE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAHGeorge Rawlinson10h4.3 (723)$2 · $0.00
Bullies and Saints
Bullies and SaintsJohn Dickson14h 37m4.4 (2.5K)$34 · $0.00
A Conflict of Visions
A Conflict of VisionsThomas Sowell7h 8m4.4 (16K)$17
A Discourse Upon the Origin and the Foundation of the Inequality Among Mankind
A Discourse Upon the Origin and the Foundation of the Inequality Among Mankind Jean-Jacques Rousseau2h 51m4.0 (21.8K)Free
Common Sense
Common SenseThomas Paine2h 25m4.1 (54.4K)$2.30
Walden, and On The Duty Of Civil Disobedience
Walden, and On The Duty Of Civil DisobedienceHenry David Thoreau11h 44m4.0 (73.3K)Free
The Church History
The Church HistoryEusebius, Paul L. Maier13h 15m4.2 (5.7K)$23
Leviathan
LeviathanThomas Hobbes23h 18m3.7 (64K)$32
LEVIATHAN (Complete Edition)
LEVIATHAN (Complete Edition)Thomas Hobbes23h 43m3.9 (69.8K)$2 · $0.00
History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 2
History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 2Edward Gibbon21h 44m4.5 (1.7K)Free
History of European Morals From Augustus to Charlemagne
History of European Morals From Augustus to CharlemagneWilliam Edward Hartpole Lecky31h 49m4.2 (817)$1 · $0.00
Discover the beauty of Romanticism
Discover the beauty of RomanticismLéon Rosenthal1h 19m4.1 (29)$13 · $0.00
Leviathan (Annotated)
Leviathan (Annotated)Thomas Hobbes23h 35m$2 · $0.00
The Life and Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius (Annotated)
The Life and Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius (Annotated)George Lang, Marcus Aurelius7h 5m$0.99 · $0.00
Crisis in the History of the Papacy
Crisis in the History of the PapacyJoseph McCabe15h 36m$2.30
Aristotle (Annotated)
Aristotle (Annotated)A. E. Taylor4h 25m3.7 (121)$2 · $0.00