Morality and Sovereignty in the Philosophy of Hobbes [Paperback]

This book takes a fresh look at two of the most controversial topics in Hobbes's philosophy: morality and sovereignty. It distinguishes between the two versions of the covenant provided by Hobbes, one of which establishes a genuine system or morality based on the golden rule and the other which justifies the absolute power of the sovereign. The author defends the moral theory through an examination of the various alternatives, and the theory of sovereignty by testing it against historical experience.Preface - Note on References - Human Nature - The State of Nature and Natural Law - The Laws of Nature and Morality - Morality as Reciprocity - The Social Contract and the Golden Rule in Practice - Morality and Objectivity - The Nature of Hobbesian Morality - Hobbes and Kant - Contract Theory Today - Reason and Moral Relativity - Contract and the Commonwealth - Sovereign and Subject - Democracy and the Right of Revolution - The Nature of Sovereignty - Sovereignty and Constitutional Rights - Notes - Index