Illustrations; Acknowledgements; Notes on the text; Preface; 1. Introductory: Hobbes's humanist beginnings; 2. The Elements of Law: liberty described; 3. The Elements of Law: liberty circumscribed; 4. De cive: liberty defined; 5. Leviathan: liberty redefined; 6. Liberty and political obligation; Bibliographies; Index.
A dazzling comparison of two rival theories about the nature of human liberty.
Quentin Skinner is one of the leading historians in the world and Regius Professor of Modern History at the University of Cambridge.
'… Skinner breathes new life into historical Republican thinking…
Skinner's explanation of the exposition gives logical shape to
Hobbes - Skinner gets down the polemical force of 'Leviathan' and
sets it free. … Skinner's circumspection reconstructs Hobbes'
arguments, and proves that James Harrington was right in his
criticism of Hobbes - his won evidence puts his 'freedom theory' to
blame. A definition is not a demonstration.' Frankfurther
Allgemeine Zeitung
' … characteristically lucid, elegant and, on its own terms,
persuasive.' London Review of Books
'It is not necessary to share Skinner's preoccupations or
enthusiasms to recognise the virtues of this book. It is elegant
and erudite.' The Times Literary Supplement
'… when the Regius Professor of Modern History of Cambridge
purports to offer a brand new reading of arguable the earliest
significant work of English political philosophy, the mere
possibility of centuries of conventional reading being set aside
will prompt controversy and much deserved attention. … Skinner's
new book offers us a concept of actual or practical human
possibilities in our liberty or freedom that better identifies our
natural and inalienable human rights than does a pure or absolute
definition of liberty or freedom.' Supreme Court of Queensland
Library Review of Books
'… surely a valuable contribution to the existing body of Hobbes
scholarship. Rich in well-documented references to figures of
slight repute, but whose influence on Hobbes's thought can hardly
be disregarded, this work doubtlessly constitutes one of the most
important accounts of the Hobbesian idea of freedom … this
excellent book does itself contribute significantly to our
understanding of Hobbes's notion of 'liberty' in the framework of
his oeuvre and as such ought to take an important place in the
existing body of Hobbes literature.' CEU Political Science Journal
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