Thomas Hobbes and the Politics of Natural Philosophy

(Hardback)

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In 1625, Charles I inherited not only his father's crown, but also his desire to run the country without interference from Parliament. But many members of Parliament opposed the King on issues of taxation, religion and the royal prerogative. It was in this historical context that Hobbes presented a political philosophy that, at least in his opinion, achieved the status of a science, in a nation that was 'boiling hot with questions concerning the rights of dominion and the obedience due from subjects'. In this important new book, Stephen J. Finn argues that, contrary to the traditional interpretation, Hobbes's political views influence his theoretical and natural philosophy and not the other way about. Such an interpretation, it is argued, provides a better appreciation of Hobbes's writings, both philosophical and political.

Reviews

"This book aims to interpret some aspects of Hobbes' natural philosophy from a political perspective. Instead of considering, as many commentators have done so far, the influence of natural philosophy on Hobbesian moral and political views, Finn approaches the question from the opposite direction and suggests that politics influenced Hobbes' conception of science...There is obviously a lack of consistency in some parts of Hobbesian natural philosophy, and political reasons can perhaps explain some of it, but one may doubt that there is enough evidence to speak, as Finn does, of a politics' of truth, nominalism and reason." -Luc Foisneau, Philosophy in Review, 2007 -- Negative
Reference & Research Book News, August 2006 -- mention
mention- The Chronicle of Higher Education/ October 27, 2006
'This work is one of the most in-depth studies of Hobbes's thought available in the English speaking world today.' James J. McCartney, Villanova University, PA * Blurb from reviewer *
"This book serves as a good reminder of the fact that Hobbes's natural philosophy does not exist in a vacuum." -Susanne Sreedhar, Tulane University, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews, 2007 -- Susanne Sreedhar, Tulane University * Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *

Author Bio

Stephen J. Finn is Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Assistant Director of the Center for Teaching Excellenceat the United States Military Academy, West Point, USA.