Simple guide
Leviathan Summary
Leviathan argues that human beings seek security under conditions of fear, competition, and uncertainty.
Main idea
Leviathan argues that human beings seek security under conditions of fear, competition, and uncertainty. Hobbes builds from sense, speech, reason, desire, and power to the state of nature, laws of nature, contracts, commonwealth, sovereign authority, and subject liberty.
- Fear and uncertainty can produce conflict.
- Peace requires enforceable covenants.
- The commonwealth is created by authorization.
- Hobbes prioritizes security and order.
Modern reading
Leviathan helps readers connect old arguments with modern questions about power, ethics, knowledge, freedom, and public life.
Best section to start with
Start with the first section for the core problem, then use the section list to move toward the theme that matters most to you.
Related classics
FAQ
What is Leviathan about?
Selected core chapters from Hobbes’s political classic about human nature, speech, desire, the state of nature, contracts, sovereignty, and liberty.
Is Leviathan hard to read?
The original can be dense or old-fashioned, but the Simple Classics section pages give a plain-English bridge before the full original text.