Thomas Hobbes: Skepticism, Individuality, and Chastened Politics

(Paperback)

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As its subtitle "Skepticism, Individuality and Chastened Politics" indicates, this work is an exploration of and a largely favorable engagement with salient elements in the thinking of a theorist who is regarded as an Anglophone political thinker and among the top rank of philosophical writers generally. In emphasizing Hobbes's skepticism, Richard Flathman goes against the grain of much of the literature concerning Hobbes. The theme of individuality is more familiar, particularly from the celebrated writings on Hobbes by Michael Oakeshott, but the idea of a chastened politics challenges the widely influential view that Hobbes was not only an authoritarian but an incipient or proto-totalitarian. Although primarily an account of Hobbes's thinking, Flathman contends that Hobbes's formulation speaks valuably to issues that remain very much with us. For this reason "Thomas Hobbes" should be of interest to a wider audience than Hobbes specialists.

Reviews

Richard Flathman is one of today's most provocative and lively political theorists. And Thomas Hobbes is arguably the most interesting political thinker in the Western canon. Put the two together so that you have Flathman on Hobbes and the result is a work that is wonderfully unsettling, undoing some of the standard readings of Hobbes and building the strongest case to date for a liberal/Hobbes theory of politics. Flathman's Hobbes is more complicated than any of those versions in which Hobbesian politics comes down to a question of choosing between the state of nature and the absolute state. In contrast, Flathman quite properly insists that Hobbes saw political life as far more complexas necessary and regrettable, fearful and inspiring, individualizing and absolutist. In an example of textual exegesis put to work for reasons that can matter to us, Flathman argues that in fact the state of nature and the state of civil society are frequently commingled in Hobbes's thought. This gives rise, in turn, to an entirely original analysis of how dependent the powers of Leviathan are upon its limited ability to use those powers. Flathman's larger ambition in drawing a map of this Hobbesian (dis)order, is to celebrate citizens who both affirm and deny their -- Alfonso J. Damico, University of Iowa
This book is must reading for students of Hobbes' political thought and political theory in general. . . . An important addition to libraries serving advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty. * Choice Reviews *
This is an illuminating companion volume to Flathman's fascinating and highly original book, Willful Liberalism. Flathman develops an interpretation of Hobbes' thought as having as its heart a conception of human beings as willful and self-making creatures that is of the sharpest relevance to current political theory and practice. This is an accomplished and subtly reasoned book that will well repay reading by anyone interested in the modern political condition and in the limits of political action in the contemporary world. -- John Gray, philosopher; Oxford University
Here is Flathmantheorist of a wilful liberalismat his wilful best. Flathman's Hobbes is a skeptical theorist of minimal sovereignty and robust individuality. This candid and idiosyncratic engagement with Hobbes produces a liberalism that is a valuable antidote to the rationalist varieties that dominate political theory today. -- Bonnie Honig, Northwestern University
Amidst the vogue of rationalist and game-theoretical interpretations of Hobbes, Flathman's book provides a breath of fresh air. Rehabilitating the passions as moving forces of human conduct and presenting Hobbes as a defender of 'robust individuality,' his reading shows that, at the eve of the twenty-first century, the thought of that early modern thinker is more relevant than ever. -- Chantal Mouffe, Collge International de Philosophie, Paris
Richard Flathman is one of today's most provocative and lively political theorists. And Thomas Hobbes is arguably the most interesting political thinker in the Western canon. Put the two together so that you have Flathman on Hobbes and the result is a work that is wonderfully unsettling, undoing some of the standard readings of Hobbes and building the strongest case to date for a liberal/Hobbes theory of politics. Flathman's Hobbes is more complicated than any of those versions in which Hobbesian politics comes down to a question of choosing between the state of nature and the absolute state. In contrast, Flathman quite properly insists that Hobbes saw political life as far more complexas necessary and regrettable, fearful and inspiring, individualizing and absolutist. In an example of textual exegesis put to work for reasons that can matter to us, Flathman argues that in fact the state of nature and the state of civil society are frequently commingled in Hobbes's thought. This gives rise, in turn, to an entirely original analysis of how dependent the powers of Leviathan are upon its limited ability to use those powers. Flathman's larger ambition in drawing a map of this Hobbesian (dis)order, is to celebrate citizens who both affirm and deny their collective public life. He clearly reserves his admiration for those, like Hobbes, whom he believes are capable of living with the ambiguity inherent in that commitment. Here, as throughout, Flathman's interpretations and arguments consistently rise above secondary analysis to the level of first order political theorizing. -- Alfonso J. Damico, University of Iowa

Author Bio

Richard E. Flathman is George Armstrong Kelly Memorial Professor of Political Science at Johns Hopkins University where he teaches political philosophy.