| ID | 085339 |
| Title Proper | Difficulties of hobbes interpretation |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Baumgold, Deborah |
| Publication | 2008. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Idiosyncrasies of Hobbes's composition process, together with a paucity of reliable autobiographical materials and the norms of seventeenth-century manuscript production, render interpretation of his political theory particularly difficult and contentious. These difficulties are surveyed here under three headings: (1) the process of "serial" composition (meaning the production of multiple, often expanded, versions of a work), which was common in the period; (2) the relationship between Hobbes's three political-theory texts- the Elements of Law, De Cive, and Leviathan, which is basic to defining the textual embodiment of his theory, and controversial; and (3) his method of writing. I argue that Hobbes's composition process undercut his intention to produce a deductive, logical theory of politics and opened the door to inconsistency and muddle in his arguments. |
| `In' analytical Note | Political Theory vol. 36, No. 6; Dec 2008: p827-855 |
| Journal Source | Political Theory vol. 36, No. 6; Dec 2008: p827-855 |
| Key Words | Leviathan ; History of the Book ; Hobbes ; Interpretation ; Political Theory |