Human Nature, De Corpore Politico (The Elements of Law) and Of Liberty and Necessity
- Language:
- English
- Status:
- Complete work
- Authorship:
- Written by the author
- Condition of the text:
- No scanning noise detected (automatic measure over the whole text, not checked by hand)
- Extent:
- ~160,000 words · 744 passages
Cite this work
- APAThomas Hobbes. (n.d.). Human Nature, De Corpore Politico (The Elements of Law) and Of Liberty and Necessity. Digital reproduction: SigPhi. https://sigphiai.com/en/works/thomas-hobbes/human-nature-de-corpore-politico-the-elements-of-law-and-of-liberty-and-necessity
- MLAThomas Hobbes. Human Nature, De Corpore Politico (The Elements of Law) and Of Liberty and Necessity. Digital reproduction, SigPhi, https://sigphiai.com/en/works/thomas-hobbes/human-nature-de-corpore-politico-the-elements-of-law-and-of-liberty-and-necessity.
- ChicagoThomas Hobbes. Human Nature, De Corpore Politico (The Elements of Law) and Of Liberty and Necessity. Digital reproduction, SigPhi. https://sigphiai.com/en/works/thomas-hobbes/human-nature-de-corpore-politico-the-elements-of-law-and-of-liberty-and-necessity.
Reference to the edition that SigPhi reproduces: SigPhi is its digital reproduction, not its publisher. The edition's year is not in the metadata (hence "n.d."), and the translator appears only when recorded.
What it is about
The writings in which Hobbes set out his politics for the first time, ten years before 'Leviathan', together with his debate on free will with Bishop Bramhall.
Context and history
'Human Nature' and 'De corpore politico' are the two halves of the 'Elements of Law', which Hobbes circulated in manuscript in 1640 and which were printed without his leave in 1650. The whole structure is already there: the mechanical psychology of the passions, the state of nature as a war of all against all, and the covenant that creates an indivisible authority. It is shorter and barer than 'Leviathan', and for that reason a good way in. 'Of Liberty and Necessity' is another matter: his defence of the compatibility of human freedom with determinism — a man is free who does what he wills, even if what he wills is caused — which is the formulation that has lasted through the whole later discussion.
Editorial context, not a citable source: unlike the passages of the work itself, these statements cannot be checked against the corpus.
Panduntur omnes machinæ gyri tuæ, Animæque vectes, trochleæ, cunei, rotæ; Qua concitetur arte, quo sufflamine Sistatur illa rursus, et constet sibi: Nec, si fenestram pectori humano suam Aptasset ipse Momus, inspiceret magis. Hic cerno levia affectuum vestigia, Gracilesque sensus lineas; video quibus Vehantur alis blanduli cupidines, Quibusque stimulis urgeant iræ graves. Hic et dolores, et voluptates suos Produnt recessus; ipse nec timor latet. Has norit artes, quisquis in foro velit Animorum habenas flectere, et populos cupit Aptis ligatos nexibus jungi sibi. Hic Archimedes publicus figat pedem, Siquando regna machinis politicis Urgere satagit, et feras gentes ciet, Imisque motum sedibus mundum quatit: Facile domabit cuncta, qui menti imperat. Consultor audax, et Promethei potens Facinoris anime! quis tibi dedit Deus Hæc intueri sæculis longe abdita, Oculosque luce tinxit ambrosia tuos? Tu mentis omnis, at tuæ nulla est capax. Hac laude solus fruere: divinum est opus Animam creare; proximum huic, ostendere. RAD. BATHURST, A.M. COL. TRIN. OXON. ------------------------------------------------------------------------HUMAN NATURE: OR THE FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS OF POLICY. ------- CHAPTER I. [Sidenote: Introduction.] 1.…