Hobbes: A Biography

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Cambridge University Press, Apr 13, 1999 - Biography & Autobiography - 390 pages
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) is now recognized as one of the fathers of modern philosophy and political theory. In his own time he was as famous for his work in physics, geometry, and religion. He associated with some of the greatest writers, scientists, and politicians of his age including Ben Jonson, Galileo and King Charles II. A. P. Martinich has written the most complete and accessible biography of Hobbes available. The book takes full account of the historical and cultural context in which Hobbes lived, drawing on both published and unpublished sources. It will be a great resource for philosophers, political theorists, and historians of ideas. The clear, crisp prose style will also ensure that the book appeals to general readers with an interest in the history of philosophy, the rise of modern science, and the English Civil War. A. P. Martinich is a Professor of Philosophy and the author or editor of nine books, including The Philosophy of Language (1996), Philosophical Writing (1997), and The Two Gods of Leviathan (Cambridge University Press, 1992).

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Contents

Tutor and Companion 16081620
19
Secretary and Humanist 16211629
43
Early Scientific Studies and Religious Views
82
The Elements of Law Natural and Politic
121
A Decade of Exile 16411651 I
161
A Decade of Exile 16411651 II
194
Leviathan and the Engagement Controversy
216
Demonstrations and Disputations 16521659
254
Baiting the Bear 16601669
293
The Final Years 16701679
333
A Bibliographical Essay
359
Notes
365
Index
385
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