Hobbes and the Social Contract Tradition

A major study of Hobbes' political philosophy drawing on developments in game and decision theory.

Jean Hampton (Author)

9780521368278, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 26 August 1988

316 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.8 cm, 0.441 kg

'Hampton's ingenious argument … is the best that has yet been advanced to explain how Hobbesian persons could institute a sovereign.' David Gauthier, Philosophy and Public Affairs

This major study of Hobbes' political philosophy draws on recent developments in game and decision theory to explore whether the thrust of the argument in Leviathan, that it is in the interests of the people to create a ruler with absolute power, can be shown to be cogent. Professor Hampton has written a book of vital importance to political philosophers, political and social scientists, and intellectual historians.

Acknowledgments
A note on texts and references
Introduction
1. 'Of Man': the foundation of Hobbe's political argument
2. What is the cause of conflict in the state of nature?
3. The shortsightedness account of conflict and the laws of nature
4. The argument of absolute sovereignty
5. Authorizing the sovereign
6. Hobbe's social contract
7. The failure of Hobbe's social contract argument
8. Can Hobbe's argument be salvaged?
9. How the traditional social contract argument works
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Social & political philosophy [HPS]