Hobbes and Political Contractarianism: Selected Writings [Hardcover]

This book presents a selection of David Gauthier's writings on Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) and the theory of political contractarianism. The essays cover topics including Hobbes on law, social contract theory, and public reason.This volume presents a selection of David Gauthier's writings on Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) and the theory of political contractarianism. The eight essays on Hobbes, written over four decades, represent the author's changing understanding of the moral and political theories since the publication ofThe Logic of Leviathan(OUP, 1969). These include essays on Hobbes on law, challenging influential readings of his legal philosophy, and a previously unpublished piece, 'The True and Only Moral Philosophy', providing a close reading of chapters 13-15 ofLeviathan. The four essays on social contract theory include an extended version of 'Political Contractarianism' (1997), Gauthier's well-known 'Public Reason' (1994), and a paper previously available only in French and Spanish translations.IntroductionPart I. Hobbes1. Hobbes s Social Contract (1990, longer version)2. Taming Leviathan (1987)3. Hobbes on Demonstration and Construction (1997)4. Thomas Hobbes and the Contractarian Theory of Law (1990)5. Hobbes: The Laws of Nature (2001)6. Hobbes on Sovereign Authority: How the Right of Nature Becomes Sovereign Right (2018)7. The True and Only Moral Philosophy: A Close Reading of Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, Chapters 13 15 (unpublished)8. Authors and Actors (unpublished)Appendix: De Cive v. leviathanPart II. The Social Contract9. Political Contractarianism (1997, longer version)10. Public Reason (1994)11. The Best of Times (Universality, Individuality, and Democracy) (1999)12. A Society of Individuals (2016)Additional Writings on Related TopicsChristopher MorrisDavid Gauthier is Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus at the University of Pittsburgh. He previously held postions at the University of Toronto, andl£Ì