Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes

48. A REVIEW AND CONCLUSION

825 words  |  Chapter 16

THE INTRODUCTION Nature (the art whereby God hath made and governes the world) is by the art of man, as in many other things, so in this also imitated, that it can make an Artificial Animal. For seeing life is but a motion of Limbs, the begining whereof is in some principall part within; why may we not say, that all Automata (Engines that move themselves by springs and wheeles as doth a watch) have an artificiall life? For what is the Heart, but a Spring; and the Nerves, but so many Strings; and the Joynts, but so many Wheeles, giving motion to the whole Body, such as was intended by the Artificer? Art goes yet further, imitating that Rationall and most excellent worke of Nature, Man. For by Art is created that great LEVIATHAN called a COMMON-WEALTH, or STATE, (in latine CIVITAS) which is but an Artificiall Man; though of greater stature and strength than the Naturall, for whose protection and defence it was intended; and in which, the Soveraignty is an Artificiall Soul, as giving life and motion to the whole body; The Magistrates, and other Officers of Judicature and Execution, artificiall Joynts; Reward and Punishment (by which fastned to the seat of the Soveraignty, every joynt and member is moved to performe his duty) are the Nerves, that do the same in the Body Naturall; The Wealth and Riches of all the particular members, are the Strength; Salus Populi (the Peoples Safety) its Businesse; Counsellors, by whom all things needfull for it to know, are suggested unto it, are the Memory; Equity and Lawes, an artificiall Reason and Will; Concord, Health; Sedition, Sicknesse; and Civill War, Death. Lastly, the Pacts and Covenants, by which the parts of this Body Politique were at first made, set together, and united, resemble that Fiat, or the Let Us Make Man, pronounced by God in the Creation. To describe the Nature of this Artificiall man, I will consider First the Matter thereof, and the Artificer; both which is Man. Secondly, How, and by what Covenants it is made; what are the Rights and just Power or Authority of a Soveraigne; and what it is that Preserveth and Dissolveth it. Thirdly, what is a Christian Common-Wealth. Lastly, what is the Kingdome of Darkness. Concerning the first, there is a saying much usurped of late, That Wisedome is acquired, not by reading of Books, but of Men. Consequently whereunto, those persons, that for the most part can give no other proof of being wise, take great delight to shew what they think they have read in men, by uncharitable censures of one another behind their backs. But there is another saying not of late understood, by which they might learn truly to read one another, if they would take the pains; and that is, Nosce Teipsum, Read Thy Self: which was not meant, as it is now used, to countenance, either the barbarous state of men in power, towards their inferiors; or to encourage men of low degree, to a sawcie behaviour towards their betters; But to teach us, that for the similitude of the thoughts, and Passions of one man, to the thoughts, and Passions of another, whosoever looketh into himselfe, and considereth what he doth, when he does Think, Opine, Reason, Hope, Feare, &c, and upon what grounds; he shall thereby read and know, what are the thoughts, and Passions of all other men, upon the like occasions. I say the similitude of Passions, which are the same in all men, Desire, Feare, Hope, &c; not the similitude or The Objects of the Passions, which are the things Desired, Feared, Hoped, &c: for these the constitution individuall, and particular education do so vary, and they are so easie to be kept from our knowledge, that the characters of mans heart, blotted and confounded as they are, with dissembling, lying, counterfeiting, and erroneous doctrines, are legible onely to him that searcheth hearts. And though by mens actions wee do discover their designee sometimes; yet to do it without comparing them with our own, and distinguishing all circumstances, by which the case may come to be altered, is to decypher without a key, and be for the most part deceived, by too much trust, or by too much diffidence; as he that reads, is himselfe a good or evill man. But let one man read another by his actions never so perfectly, it serves him onely with his acquaintance, which are but few. He that is to govern a whole Nation, must read in himselfe, not this, or that particular man; but Man-kind; which though it be hard to do, harder than to learn any Language, or Science; yet, when I shall have set down my own reading orderly, and perspicuously, the pains left another, will be onely to consider, if he also find not the same in himselfe. For this kind of Doctrine, admitteth no other Demonstration.

Chapters

1. Chapter 1 2. 6. OF THE INTERIOUR BEGINNINGS OF VOLUNTARY MOTIONS, COMMONLY CALLED THE 3. 8. OF THE VERTUES, COMMONLY CALLED INTELLECTUALL, AND THEIR CONTRARY 4. 13. OF THE NATURALL CONDITION OF MANKIND AS CONCERNING THEIR FELICITY 5. 16. OF PERSONS, AUTHORS, AND THINGS PERSONATED 6. 19. OF SEVERALL KINDS OF COMMON-WEALTH BY INSTITUTION; AND OF SUCCESION 7. 29. OF THOSE THINGS THAT WEAKEN, OR TEND TO THE DISSOLUTION OF A 8. 31. OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD BY NATURE 9. 33. OF THE NUMBER, ANTIQUITY, SCOPE, AUTHORITY, AND INTERPRETERS OF THE 10. 34. OF THE SIGNIFICATION, OF SPIRIT, ANGELL, AND INSPIRATION IN THE 11. 35. OF THE SIGNIFICATION IN SCRIPTURE OF THE KINGDOME OF GOD, OF HOLY, 12. 38. OF THE SIGNIFICATION IN SCRIPTURE OF ETERNALL LIFE, HEL, SALVATION, 13. 40. OF THE RIGHTS OF THE KINGDOME OF GOD, IN ABRAHAM, MOSES, THE HIGH 14. 43. OF WHAT IS NECESSARY FOR MANS RECEPTION INTO THE KINGDOME OF HEAVEN 15. 47. OF THE BENEFIT PROCEEDING FROM SUCH DARKNESSE; AND TO WHOM IT 16. 48. A REVIEW AND CONCLUSION 17. PART I. 18. CHAPTER I. OF SENSE 19. CHAPTER II. OF IMAGINATION 20. CHAPTER III. OF THE CONSEQUENCE OR TRAYNE OF IMAGINATIONS 21. CHAPTER IV. OF SPEECH 22. CHAPTER V. OF REASON, AND SCIENCE. 23. CHAPTER VI. OF THE INTERIOUR BEGINNINGS OF VOLUNTARY MOTIONS 24. CHAPTER VII. OF THE ENDS OR RESOLUTIONS OF DISCOURSE 25. CHAPTER VIII. OF THE VERTUES COMMONLY CALLED INTELLECTUAL; AND THEIR 26. 10. 20.) some said, "He hath a Divell, and is mad;" whereas others 27. CHAPTER IX. OF THE SEVERALL SUBJECTS OF KNOWLEDGE 28. 1. Consequences from the Accidents common to all Bodies Naturall; 29. 2. PHYSIQUES, or Consequences from Qualities 30. 1. Of Consequences from the Institution of COMMON-WEALTHS, to 31. 2. Of Consequences from the same, to the Duty and Right of 32. CHAPTER X. OF POWER, WORTH, DIGNITY, HONOUR AND WORTHINESS 33. CHAPTER XI. OF THE DIFFERENCE OF MANNERS 34. CHAPTER XII. OF RELIGION 35. CHAPTER XIII. OF THE NATURALL CONDITION OF MANKIND, 36. CHAPTER XIV. OF THE FIRST AND SECOND NATURALL LAWES, AND OF CONTRACTS 37. CHAPTER XV. OF OTHER LAWES OF NATURE 38. introduction of Warre; which is against the Law of Nature; and is 39. CHAPTER XVI. OF PERSONS, AUTHORS, AND THINGS PERSONATED 40. PART II. 41. CHAPTER XVII. OF THE CAUSES, GENERATION, AND DEFINITION OF A 42. CHAPTER XVIII. OF THE RIGHTS OF SOVERAIGNES BY INSTITUTION 43. 1. The Subjects Cannot Change The Forme Of Government 44. 2. Soveraigne Power Cannot Be Forfeited 45. 3. No Man Can Without Injustice Protest Against The Institution Of The 46. 4. The Soveraigns Actions Cannot Be Justly Accused By The Subject 47. 5. What Soever The Soveraigne Doth, Is Unpunishable By The Subject 48. 6. The Soveraigne Is Judge Of What Is Necessary For The Peace And 49. 7. The Right of making Rules, whereby the Subject may every man know 50. 8. To Him Also Belongeth The Right Of All Judicature And Decision Of 51. 9. And Of Making War, And Peace, As He Shall Think Best: 52. 10. And Of Choosing All Counsellours, And Ministers, Both Of Peace, And 53. 11. And Of Rewarding, And Punishing, And That (Where No 54. 12. And Of Honour And Order 55. CHAPTER XIX. OF THE SEVERALL KINDS OF COMMON-WEALTH BY INSTITUTION, 56. CHAPTER XX. OF DOMINION PATERNALL AND DESPOTICALL 57. 21. 2,3) "Go into the Village over against you, and you shall find a 58. CHAPTER XXI. OF THE LIBERTY OF SUBJECTS 59. CHAPTER XXII. OF SYSTEMES SUBJECT, POLITICALL, AND PRIVATE 60. CHAPTER XXIII. OF THE PUBLIQUE MINISTERS OF SOVERAIGN POWER 61. CHAPTER XXIV. OF THE NUTRITION, AND PROCREATION OF A COMMON-WEALTH 62. CHAPTER XXV. OF COUNSELL 63. CHAPTER XXVI. OF CIVILL LAWES 64. 1. The Legislator in all Common-wealths, is only the Soveraign, be he 65. 2. The Soveraign of a Common-wealth, be it an Assembly, or one Man, is 66. 3. When long Use obtaineth the authority of a Law, it is not the 67. 4. The Law of Nature, and the Civill Law, contain each other, and are 68. 5. If the Soveraign of one Common-wealth, subdue a people that have 69. 6. Seeing then all Lawes, written, and unwritten, have their Authority, 70. 7. That Law can never be against Reason, our Lawyers are agreed; and 71. 8. From this, that the Law is a Command, and a Command consisteth in 72. 1. The Edicts, Constitutions, and Epistles Of The Prince, that is, of 73. 2. The Decrees Of The Whole People Of Rome (comprehending the Senate,) 74. 3. The Decrees Of The Common People (excluding the Senate,) when they 75. 4. Senatus Consulta, the Orders Of The Senate; because when the people 76. 5. The Edicts Of Praetors, and (in some Cases) of the Aediles: such as 77. 6. Responsa Prudentum; which were the Sentences, and Opinions of those 78. 7. Also, Unwritten Customes, (which in their own nature are an imitation 79. CHAPTER XXVII. OF CRIMES, EXCUSES, AND EXTENUATIONS 80. CHAPTER XXVIII. OF PUNISHMENTS, AND REWARDS 81. CHAPTER XXIX. OF THOSE THINGS THAT WEAKEN, OR TEND TO THE DISSOLUTION OF 82. CHAPTER XXX. OF THE OFFICE OF THE SOVERAIGN REPRESENTATIVE 83. CHAPTER XXXI. OF THE KINGDOME OF GOD BY NATURE 84. PART III. 85. CHAPTER XXXII. OF THE PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIAN POLITIQUES 86. CHAPTER XXXIII. OF THE NUMBER, ANTIQUITY, SCOPE, AUTHORITY, AND 87. 27. which was also commanded to be written on stones, in their entry 88. 22. 8 & 23. 1,2,3) 89. 14. 15. 63. 90. 126. whereby it is manifest that the Psalter was compiled, and put into 91. CHAPTER XXXIV. OF THE SIGNIFICATION OF SPIRIT, ANGEL, AND INSPIRATION IN 92. 8. 1. Where when the earth was covered with Waters, as in the beginning, 93. CHAPTER XXXV. OF THE SIGNIFICATION IN SCRIPTURE OF KINGDOME OF GOD, OF 94. CHAPTER XXXVI. OF THE WORD OF GOD, AND OF PROPHETS 95. 18. 1.) by an apparition of three Angels; and to Abimelech (Gen. 20. 3.) 96. 26. 24.) to Isaac in the night; (that is, in his sleep, or by dream): 97. 12. 6,7,8.) "If there be a Prophet among you, I the Lord will make my 98. 4. 2, &c) speaking expressely of the means to examine Spirits, whether 99. CHAPTER XXXVII. OF MIRACLES, AND THEIR USE 100. 13. 58.) that he wrought not many Miracles in his own countrey, because 101. 18. of Deuteronomy; That wee take not any for Prophets, that teach any 102. CHAPTER XXXVIII. OF THE SIGNIFICATION IN SCRIPTURE OF ETERNALL LIFE, 103. CHAPTER XXXIX. OF THE SIGNIFICATION IN SCRIPTURE OF THE WORD CHURCH 104. CHAPTER XL OF THE RIGHTS OF THE KINGDOME OF GOD, IN ABRAHAM, MOSES, 105. CHAPTER XLI. OF THE OFFICE OF OUR BLESSED SAVIOUR 106. CHAPTER XLII. OF POWER ECCLESIASTICALL 107. 24. where he saith, "As in Adam all die, so in Christ all shall be 108. 5. 39.) "Search the Scriptures; for in them yee thinke to have eternall 109. 2. of the same Chapter) "Serving of Tables," is a service done to the 110. CHAPTER XLIII. OF WHAT IS NECESSARY FOR A MANS RECEPTION INTO THE 111. 11. 30.) that "Christs yoke is Easy, and his burthen Light:" Nor that 112. 4. 2. "Every Spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the 113. PART IV. 114. CHAPTER XLIV. OF SPIRITUALL DARKNESSE FROM MISINTERPRETATION OF 115. 4. ver.3.) "Better is he that hath not yet been, than both they;" that 116. 1. 12.); and againe, (2 Sam. 3. 35.) for the death of Abner. This 117. CHAPTER XLV. OF DAEMONOLOGY, AND OTHER RELIQUES OF THE RELIGION OF THE 118. CHAPTER XLVI. OF DARKNESSE FROM VAIN PHILOSOPHY, AND FABULOUS TRADITIONS 119. CHAPTER XLVII. OF THE BENEFIT THAT PROCEEDETH FROM SUCH DARKNESSE, AND

Reading Tips

Use arrow keys to navigate

Press 'N' for next chapter

Press 'P' for previous chapter