Reading Questions
M 06 Dec
Hobbes, Leviathan, pt. I, bks. 1-16 (pp. 7-110)
What is Hobbes' goal in Part I? What is the role of fear in the
argument?
Why does H. begin a book on politics with a discussion of epistemology
and
signification? (Think back to the excerpt from Thucydides.) Do you see
here any connections to (or contradictions of)
any of the Hellenistic Philosophers? Descartes? Machiavelli?
What is the State of Nature? Does it exist anywhere? Why can't we all
just get along? Has Hobbes' read Augustine?
What is Hobbes' idea of justice? Does he agree with Plato?
What is the origin of political society? of law?