
Written during the English Civil War (1642–1651), Leviathan argues for a social contract and rule by an absolute sovereign. Leviathan ranks as a classic Western work on statecraft comparable to Machiavelli's The Prince. The work concerns the structure of society and legitimate government, and is regarded as one of the earliest and most influential examples of social contract theory. Its name derives from the biblical Leviathan. Leviathan, is a book written by Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) and published in 1651 (revised Latin edition 1668). Buy your copy today and discover why this groundbreaking work has stood the test of time.Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil, Thomas Hobbes With its incisive analysis of political power and its provocative critique of traditional political philosophy, Leviathan is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of political thought. He contends that without the coercive power of the state, life would be "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." To prevent this, individuals must surrender some of their rights to the state in exchange for protection and security. In vivid and compelling prose, Hobbes lays out his theory of human nature and the role of government in regulating society.

With its emphasis on the power of the sovereign, Leviathan has been both celebrated and reviled throughout history, and remains as relevant today as it was when first published. In this seminal text, Hobbes argues for the absolute sovereignty of the state and the need for a social contract to maintain order and prevent the chaos of the state of nature. Leviathan, the classic work of political philosophy by Thomas Hobbes, has been a cornerstone of Western thought for centuries.
