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Leviathan
- or The Matter, Form, and Power of a Commonwealth, Ecclesiastical and Civil
- Narrated by: James Adams
- Length: 23 hrs and 17 mins
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Leviathan
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Summary
The leviathan is the vast unity of the State. But how are unity, peace, and security to be attained? Hobbes’ answer is sovereignty, but the resurgence of interest today in Leviathan is due less to its answers than its methods: Hobbes sees politics as a science capable of the same axiomatic approach as geometry.
Written during the turmoil of the English Civil War, Leviathan was, in Hobbes’ lifetime, publicly burnt and even condemned in Parliament as one of the causes of the Great Fire of London in 1666. Its current appeal lies not just in its elevation of politics to a science, but in its overriding concern for peace, its systematic analysis of power, and its convincing apologia for the then-emergent market society in which we still live.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Eduardo Vera
- 13-06-19
Quite heavy on the religious part.
I hoped it took more chapters on human perception and les chapers about religion. Nevertheless I totally get it that it is what it is and it couldn't get any better because it is how the thinker perceive reality at that time.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Kieran McLoughlin
- 14-05-24
Beautifully narrated, but a book of two half's for me
Probably like many of you looking this, I wondered what Leviathan actually was. The synopsis doesn't help as much, while the reputation of this book in the realms of philosophy, especially political philosophy, is undeniable, so I wasn't sure what I was getting into here. In essence, I'd describe the first half as a 5/5, a deconstruction of human nature in the political system, taking on the mammoth task of outlaying every level of human standing, and the interaction between all aspects of political systems. Though based in in 1600s, its teachings and insights are very applicable. it is a fascinating task to undertake, so hobbes deserves full credit for this attempt. Where this book loses me is the latter half, where it goes super Christian heavy, which depending on where you sit on that front will either add or detract to your enjoyment. For me, it made the second half drag considerably, which is a shame. But, we're talking about a book written in the 1600s, so it's difficult to be truly critical of this. A product of its time, bit worth the read nonetheless, especially the first half.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- 07514622353
- 11-04-17
Leviathan
Only 3/4 in does it finally become a fascinating read.
First of all almost unbearable then it seems to evolve into a very old Dan Brown novel where it finally picks up!!
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3 people found this helpful