Leviathan (PDF)

Thomas Hobbes wrote this definitive thesis on how to establish a manageable government. "Leviathan" is a treatise similar to Machiavelli's approach to the jurisdiction allowed to independent countries. Hobbes believed that the first principle of human conduct is self-interest, and this behavior is the base element of social confrontation. In order to maintain peace and uphold the law, a sovereign is needed to guard the people's safety and punish anyone who breaks the regulations. The sovereign is one power, not a division of controlling elements. The commonwealth he commands can only be built by force or agreement. When the government has such power, the individual citizen can allocate his time and energy to serving the needs of his family and satisfying the requirements of a good administration. This same system also allows the privilege of self-defense but not aggression. Hobbes surmised the God's natural law is an education of rational enlightenment which influences all situations.
Please Note: This book is easy to read in true text, not scanned images that can sometimes be difficult to decipher. The Microsoft eBook has a contents page linked to the chapter headings for easy navigation. The Adobe eBook has bookmarks at chapter headings and is printable up to two full copies per year. Both versions are text searchable.