The Two Gods of Leviathan
Thomas Hobbes on Religion and Politics

Martinich shows that religious concerns pervade Leviathan and indicates how Christian doctrine is not politically destabilising and is consistent with modern science.

A. P. Martinich (Author)

9780521531238, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 20 February 2003

452 pages
22.9 x 15.3 x 2.9 cm, 0.663 kg

As well as being considered the greatest English political philosopher, Hobbes has traditionally been thought of as a purely secular thinker, highly critical of all religion. In this provocative new study, Professor Martinich argues that conventional wisdom has been misled. In fact, he shows that religious concerns pervade Leviathan and that Hobbes was really intent on providing a rational defense of the Calvinistic Church of England that flourished under the reign of James I. Professor Martinich presents a close reading of Leviathan in which he shows that, for Hobbes, Christian doctrine is not politically destabilizing and is consistent with modern science.

Acknowledgments
A note on references
Introduction
Part I. The Religious Background to Hobbes's Philosophy: 1. Considerations upon the reputation and religion of Mr. Hobbes
2. Religion
Part II. Law, Morality, and God: 3. Power, obligation, and justice
4. Law
5. The history and idea of covenants
6. Sovereign-making covenants
Part III. Religion Within the Limits of Science and Politics: 7. God
8. Revelation, prophets, and miracles
9. Angels and eschatology
10. The Church
11. Scripture
Conclusion
Appendices
Notes
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: History of Western philosophy [HPC]