LEVIATHAN

Rating:
Summary: Leviathan
Review: While to many this book may seem strange and lacking optimism it is possibly a foundation for the more mob oriented governments, such as communism and democracy (in the sense that it provides equality for all save the ruler, who gets ultimate power). However, as with other books such as Plato's Republic, we are ultimately dealing with undercrediting human beings for their complexity. It seems that Hobbes is only able to see humans capable of being evil, brutish, and short, while not considering many, many, many other qualities a human can take on. I cannot blame Hobbes for being appaled at the sight of the war he fought, but this is only one face of human kind- a violent expression of the will to power if you will. Besides, if humans are so corrupt what guarantees that the people under the supreme ruler will not ultimately destroy the ruler with their brutishness? Above all, if all men are evil brutish and short how is it ever possible to find a ruler that may take over the people?
I cannot however discredit Hobbes for his influence on the more correct philosphers, such as Nietzsche (remember the Ubermensch?) and fortification against anarchists. We could have, however, done with out his obvious influence on nihilism, though it is not his fault forbeing misread.
A note on the edition: as always I was satisfied with the quality of Penguin Classics in introducing the text and the annotations. I give the edition 5 stars; but the content of Hobbes's philosphy deserved just 1.