S. A. Lloyd proposes a radically new interpretation of Hobbes's Leviathan that shows transcendent interests--interests that override the fear of death--to be crucial to both Hobbes's analysis of social disorder and his proposed remedy to it. Most previous commentators in the analytic philosophical tradition have argued that Hobbes thought that credible threats of physical force could be sufficient to deter people from political insurrection. Professor Lloyd convincingly shows that because Hobbes took the transcendence of religious and moral interests seriously, he never believed that mere physical force could ensure social order. Lloyd's interpretation demonstrates the ineliminability of that half of Leviathan devoted to religion, and attributes to Hobbes a much more plausible conception of human nature than the narrow psychological egoism traditionally attributed to Hobbes.

Ideals as Interests in Hobbes's Leviathan: The Power of Mind over Matter

Politics & Social Sciences

Lloyd, S. A.

Philosophy

Cambridge University Press

<p>In this book, S. A. Lloyd offers a radically new interpretation of Hobbes's laws of nature, revealing them to be not egoistic precepts of personal prudence but rather moral instructions for obtaining the common good. This account of Hobbes's moral philosophy stands in contrast to both divine command and rational choice interpretations. Drawing from the core notion of reciprocity, Lloyd explains Hobbes's system of "cases in the law of nature" and situates Hobbes's moral philosophy in the broader context of his political philosophy and views on religion. Offering ingenious new arguments, Lloyd defends a reciprocity interpretation of the laws of nature through which humanity's common good is secured.</p>

Morality in the Philosophy of Thomas Hobbes: Cases in the Law of Nature

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Books by Lloyd, S. A.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Lloyd, S. A.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Ideals as Interests in Hobbes's Leviathan: The Power of Mind over Matter

Ideals as Interests in Hobbes's Leviathan: The Power of Mind over Matter

Morality in the Philosophy of Thomas Hobbes: Cases in the Law of Nature

Morality in the Philosophy of Thomas Hobbes: Cases in the Law of Nature