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- Herausgeber: Parolita Libro
- Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
- Sprache: Englisch
Leviathan or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Commonwealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil, commonly referred to as Leviathan, is a book written by Thomas Hobbes (15881679) and published in 1651 (revised Latin edition 1668). Its name derives from the biblical Leviathan. The work concerns the structure of society and legitimate government, and is regarded as one of the earliest and most influential examples of social contract theory. Written during the English Civil War (16421651), it argues for a social contract and rule by an absolute sovereign. Hobbes wrote that civil war and the brute situation of a state of nature ("the war of all against all") could be avoided only by a strong, undivided government.
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Leviathan
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ISBN: 978-368-9950-73-6
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About Author
Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury (5 April 1588 – 4 December 1679), in some older texts Thomas Hobbs of Malmsbury, was an English philosopher, best known today for his work on political philosophy. His 1651 book Leviathan established the foundation for most of Western political philosophy from the perspective of social contract theory.
Hobbes was a champion of absolutism for the sovereign, but he also developed some of the fundamentals of European liberal thought: the right of the individual; the natural equality of all men; the artificial character of the political order (which led to the later distinction between civil society and the state); the view that all legitimate political power must be "representative" and based on the consent of the people; and a liberal interpretation of law which leaves people free to do whatever the law does not explicitly forbid.
He was one of the founders of modern political philosophy. His understanding of humans as being matter and motion, obeying the same physical laws as other matter and motion, remains influential; and his account of human nature as self-interested cooperation, and of political communities as being based upon a "social contract" remains one of the major topics of political philosophy.
In addition to political philosophy, Hobbes also contributed to a diverse array of other fields, including history, geometry, the physics of gases, theology, ethics, and general philosophy.
Early life and education
Thomas Hobbes was born at Westport, now part of Malmesbury in Wiltshire, England, on 5 April 1588. Born prematurely when his mother heard of the coming invasion of the Spanish Armada, Hobbes later reported that "my mother gave birth to twins: myself and fear." His childhood is almost a complete blank, and his mother's name is unknown. His father, also named Thomas, was the vicar of Charlton and Westport. Thomas Hobbes Sr. had an older brother, Francis Hobbes, who was a wealthy merchant with no family of his own. Thomas Hobbes, the younger, had one brother Edmund who was about two years older than him. Thomas Sr. abandoned his wife, two sons and a daughter, leaving them in the care of his brother, Francis, when he was forced to flee to London after being involved in a fight with a clergyman outside his own church. Hobbes was educated at Westport church from the age of four, passed to the Malmesbury school and then to a private school kept by a young man named Robert Latimer, a graduate of the University of Oxford. Hobbes was a good pupil, and around 1603 he went up to Magdalen Hall, which is most closely related to Hertford College, Oxford. The principal John Wilkinson was a Puritan, and he had some influence on Hobbes.
At university, Hobbes appears to have followed his own curriculum; he was "little attracted by the scholastic learning". He did not complete his B.A. degree until 1608, but he was recommended by Sir James Hussey, his master at Magdalen, as tutor to William, the son of William Cavendish, Baron of Hardwick (and later Earl of Devonshire), and began a lifelong connection with that family.
Hobbes became a companion to the younger William and they both took part in a grand tour in 1610. Hobbes was exposed to European scientific and critical methods during the tour in contrast to the scholastic philosophy which he had learned in Oxford. His scholarly efforts at the time were aimed at a careful study of classic Greek and Latin authors, the outcome of which was, in 1628, his great translation of Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War, the first translation of that work into English from a Greek manuscript. It has been argued that three of the discourses in the 1620 publication known as Horea Subsecivae: Observations and Discourses, also represent the work of Hobbes from this period.
Although he associated with literary figures like Ben Jonson and thinkers such as Francis Bacon, he did not extend his efforts into philosophy until after 1629. His employer Cavendish, then the Earl of Devonshire, died of the plague in June 1628. The widowed countess dismissed Hobbes but he soon found work, again as a tutor, this time to Gervase Clifton, the son of Sir Gervase Clifton, 1st Baronet. This task, chiefly spent in Paris, ended in 1631 when he again found work with the Cavendish family, tutoring the son of his previous pupil. Over the next seven years as well as tutoring he expanded his own knowledge of philosophy, awakening in him curiosity over key philosophic debates. He visited Florence in 1636 and later was a regular debater in philosophic groups in Paris, held together by Marin Mersenne. From 1637 he considered himself a philosopher and scholar.
* * * * *
Preface (About the Book)
In Leviathan, Hobbes set out his doctrine of the foundation of states and legitimate governments – originating social contract theory. Leviathan was written during the English Civil War; much of the book is occupied with demonstrating the necessity of a strong central authority to avoid the evil of discord and civil war.
Beginning from a mechanistic understanding of human beings and the passions, Hobbes postulates what life would be like without government, a condition which he calls the state of nature. In that state, each person would have a right, or license, to everything in the world. This, Hobbes argues, would lead to a "war of all against all" (bellum omnium contra omnes). The description contains what has been called one of the best known passages in English philosophy, which describes the natural state mankind would be in, were it not for political community:
In such condition, there is no place for industry; because the fruit thereof is uncertain: and consequently no culture of the earth; no navigation, nor use of the commodities that may be imported by sea; no commodious building; no instruments of moving, and removing, such things as require much force; no knowledge of the face of the earth; no account of time; no arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.
— "Chapter XIII.: Of the Natural Condition of Mankind As Concerning Their Felicity, and Misery.", Leviathan
In such a state, people fear death, and lack both the things necessary to commodious living, and the hope of being able to toil to obtain them. So in order to avoid it people accede to a social contract and establish a civil society. According to Hobbes, society is a population beneath a sovereign authority, to whom all individuals in that society cede some rights for the sake of protection. Any abuses of power by this authority are to be accepted as the price of peace. There is no doctrine of separation of powers in Hobbes's discussion. According to Hobbes, the sovereign must control civil, military, judicial, and ecclesiastical powers.
Table of Contents
About Author
Preface (About the Book)
Table of Contents
The Introduction
Part 1 Of Man
Chapter I. Of Sense
Chapter II. Of Imagination
Memory
Dreams
Apparitions Or Visions
Understanding
Chapter III. Of The Consequence Or Trayne Of Imaginations
Trayne Of Thoughts Unguided
Trayne Of Thoughts Regulated
Remembrance
Prudence
Signes
Conjecture Of The Time Past
Chapter IV. Of Speech
Originall Of Speech
The Use Of Speech
Abuses Of Speech
Names Proper & Common Universall
Subject To Names
Use Of Names Positive
Negative Names With Their Uses
Words Insignificant
Understanding
Inconstant Names
Chapter V. Of Reason, And Science.
Reason What It Is
Reason Defined
Right Reason Where
The Use Of Reason
Of Error And Absurdity
Causes Of Absurditie
Science
Prudence & Sapience, With Their Difference
Signes Of Science
Chapter VI. Of The Interiour Beginnings Of Voluntary Motions
Motion Vitall And Animal
Endeavour; Appetite; Desire; Hunger; Thirst; Aversion
Contempt
Good Evill
Pulchrum Turpe; Delightfull Profitable; Unpleasant Unprofitable
Delight Displeasure
Pleasure Offence
Pleasures Of Sense; Pleasures Of The Mind; Joy Paine Griefe
The Will
Formes Of Speech, In Passion
Good And Evill Apparent
Felicity
Praise Magnification
Chapter VII. Of The Ends Or Resolutions Of Discourse
Judgement, or Sentence Final; Doubt
Science Opinion Conscience
Beliefe Faith
Chapter VIII. Of The Vertues Commonly Called Intellectual
Intellectuall Vertue Defined
Wit, Naturall, Or Acquired
Good Wit, Or Fancy; Good Judgement; Discretion
Prudence
Craft
Acquired Wit
Giddinesse Madnesse
Rage
Melancholy
Insignificant Speech
Chapter IX. Of The Severall Subjects Of Knowledge
Chapter X. Of Power, Worth, Dignity, Honour And Worthiness
Power
Worth
Dignity
To Honour and Dishonour
Titles of Honour
Worthinesse Fitnesse
Chapter XI. Of The Difference Of Manners
What Is Here Meant By Manners
A Restlesse Desire Of Power, In All Men
Love Of Contention From Competition
Civil Obedience From Love Of Ease
From Feare Of Death Or Wounds
And From Love Of Arts
Love Of Vertue, From Love Of Praise
Hate, From Difficulty Of Requiting Great Benefits
And From Conscience Of Deserving To Be Hated
Promptnesse To Hurt, From Fear
And From Distrust Of Their Own Wit
Vain Undertaking From Vain-Glory
Ambition, From Opinion Of Sufficiency
Irresolution, From Too Great Valuing Of Small Matters
And From The Ignorance Of Naturall Causes
And From Want Of Understanding
Credulity From Ignorance Of Nature
Curiosity To Know, From Care Of Future Time
Naturall Religion, From The Same
Chapter XII. Of Religion
Religion, In Man Onely
First, From His Desire Of Knowing Causes
From The Consideration Of The Beginning Of Things
From His Observation Of The Sequell Of Things
Which Makes Them Fear The Power Of Invisible Things
And Suppose Them Incorporeall
But Know Not The Way How They Effect Anything
But Honour Them As They Honour Men
And Attribute To Them All Extraordinary Events
Foure Things, Naturall Seeds Of Religion
Made Different By Culture
The Absurd Opinion Of Gentilisme
The Causes Of Change In Religion
Injoyning Beleefe Of Impossibilities
Doing Contrary To The Religion They Establish
Want Of The Testimony Of Miracles
Chapter XIII. Of The Naturall Condition Of Mankind
From Equality Proceeds Diffidence
From Diffidence Warre
Out Of Civil States
The Incommodites Of Such A War
In Such A Warre, Nothing Is Unjust
The Passions That Incline Men To Peace
Chapter XIV. Of The First And Second Naturall Lawes, And Of Contracts
Right Of Nature What
Liberty What
A Law Of Nature What
Naturally Every Man Has Right To Everything
The Fundamental Law Of Nature
The Second Law Of Nature
What It Is to Lay Down a Right
Renouncing (or) Transferring Right What; Obligation Duty Justice
Not All Rights Are Alienable
Contract What
Covenant What
Merit What
Covenants Of Mutuall Trust, When Invalid
Right To The End, Containeth Right To The Means
Chapter XV. Of Other Lawes Of Nature
The Third Law Of Nature, Justice
Justice And Injustice What
Justice Not Contrary To Reason
Justice Of Men, And Justice Of Actions What
Justice Of Manners, And Justice Of Actions
Justice Commutative, And Distributive
The Fourth Law Of Nature, Gratitude
The Fifth, Mutuall Accommodation, Or Compleasance
The Sixth, Facility To Pardon
The Seventh, That In Revenges, Men Respect Onely The Future Good
The Ninth, Against Pride
The Tenth Against Arrogance
The Eleventh Equity
A Rule, By Which The Laws Of Nature May Easily Be Examined
The Lawes Of Nature Oblige In Conscience Alwayes
The Science Of These Lawes, Is The True Morall Philosophy
Chapter XVI. Of Persons, Authors, And Things Personated
Person Naturall, And Artificiall
Covenants By Authority, Bind The Author
Representatives, When The Number Is Even, Unprofitable
Negative Voyce
Part II. Of Common-Wealth
Chapter XVII. Of The Cauces, Generation, And Definition Of A Common-Wealth
The End Of Common-Wealth, Particular Security
Which Is Not To Be Had From The Law Of Nature:
Nor From A Great Multitude, Unlesse Directed By One Judgement
Why Certain Creatures Without Reason, Or Speech,
The Generation Of A Common-Wealth
The Definition Of A Common-Wealth
Soveraigne, And Subject, What
Chapter XVIII. Of The Rights Of Soveraignes By Institution
The Act Of Instituting A Common-Wealth, What
The Consequences To Such Institution, Are
I. The Subjects Cannot Change The Forme Of Government
2. Soveraigne Power Cannot Be Forfeited
3. No Man Can Without Injustice Protest Against The
4. The Soveraigns Actions Cannot Be Justly Accused By The Subject
5. What Soever The Soveraigne Doth, Is Unpunishable By The Subject
6. The Soveraigne Is Judge Of What Is Necessary For The Peace
And Judge Of What Doctrines Are Fit To Be Taught Them
7. The Right Of Making Rules, Whereby The Subject May
8. To Him Also Belongeth The Right Of All Judicature
9. And Of Making War, And Peace, As He Shall Think Best:
10. And Of Choosing All Counsellours, And Ministers,
11. And Of Rewarding, And Punishing, And That (Where No)
12. And Of Honour And Order
Chapter XIX. Of The Several Kinds Of Common-Wealth By Institution,
The Different Formes Of Common-Wealths But Three
Tyranny And Oligarchy, But Different Names Of Monarchy, And Aristocracy
Subordinate Representatives Dangerous
Comparison Of Monarchy, With Soveraign Assemblyes
Of The Right Of Succession
Succession Passeth By Expresse Words;
Or, By Not Controlling A Custome;
Or, By Presumption Of Naturall Affection
To Dispose Of The Succession, Though To A King Of Another Nation,
Chapter XX. Of Dominion Paternall And Despoticall
Wherein Different From A Common-Wealth By Institution
The Right Of Succession Followeth The Rules Of The Rights Of Possession
Despoticall Dominion, How Attained
Not By The Victory, But By The Consent Of The Vanquished
Difference Between A Family And A Kingdom
The Right Of Monarchy From Scripture
Soveraign Power Ought In All Common-Wealths To Be Absolute
Chapter XXI. Of The Liberty Of Subjects
Liberty What
Liberty And Necessity Consistent
Artificiall Bonds, Or Covenants
Liberty Of Subjects Consisteth In Liberty From Covenants
Liberty Of The Subject Consistent With Unlimited Power Of The Soveraign
The Liberty Which Writers Praise, Is The Liberty Of Soveraigns;
Liberty Of The Subject How To Be Measured
Subjects Have Liberty To Defend Their Own Bodies,
The Greatest Liberty Of Subjects, Dependeth On The Silence Of The Law
In Case The Soveraign Cast Off The Government From Himself And Heyrs
In Case The Soveraign Render Himself Subject To Another
Chapter XXII. Of Systemes Subject, Politicall, And Private
The Divers Sorts Of Systemes Of People
In All Bodies Politique The Power Of The Representative Is Limited
When The Representative Is One Man, His Unwarranted Acts His Own Onely
When It Is An Assembly, It Is The Act Of Them That Assented Onely
Bodies Politique For Government Of A Province, Colony, Or Town
Bodies Politique For Ordering Of Trade
A Bodie Politique For Counsel To Be Give To The Soveraign
A Regular Private Body, Lawfull, As A Family
Systemes Irregular, Such As Are Private Leagues
Chapter XXIII. Of The Publique Ministers Of Soveraign Power
Publique Minister Who
Ministers For The Generall Administration
For Speciall Administration, As For Oeconomy
For Instruction Of The People
For Judicature
For Execution
Counsellers Without Other Employment Then To Advise
Chapter XXIV. Of The Nutrition, And Procreation Of A Common-Wealth
And The Right Of Distribution Of Them
All Private Estates Of Land Proceed Originally
Propriety Of A Subject Excludes Not The Dominion Of The Soveraign,
The Publique Is Not To Be Dieted
The Places And Matter Of Traffique Depend, As Their Distribution,
The Laws Of Transferring Property Belong Also To The Soveraign
Mony The Bloud Of A Common-Wealth
Chapter XXV. Of Counsell
Counsell What
Differences Between Command And Counsell
Exhortation And Dehortation What
Differences Of Fit And Unfit Counsellours
Chapter XXVI. Of Civill Lawes
Civill Law what
Use, A Law Not By Vertue Of Time, But Of The Soveraigns Consent
The Law Of Nature, And The Civill Law Contain Each Other
Provinciall Lawes Are Not Made By Custome, But By The Soveraign Power
Some Foolish Opinions Of Lawyers Concerning The Making Of Lawes
Law Made, If Not Also Made Known, Is No Law
Unwritten Lawes Are All Of Them Lawes Of Nature
Nothing Is Law Where The Legislator Cannot Be Known
All Lawes Need Interpretation
The Interpreter Of The Law Is The Judge Giving Sentence Viva Voce
The Sentence Of A Judge, Does Not Bind Him, Or Another Judge
The Difference Between The Letter And Sentence Of The Law
The Abilities Required In A Judge
Divisions Of Law
Another Division Of Law
Divine Positive Law How Made Known To Be Law
A Fundamentall Law What
Chapter XXVII. Of Crimes, Excuses, And Extenuations
Sinne What
A Crime What
Tacite Approbation Of The Soveraign, Extenuates
Comparison Of Crimes From Their Effects
Crimes Against Private Men Compared
Publique Crimes What
Chapter XXVIII. Of Punishments, And Rewards
Right To Punish Whence Derived
Hurt Inflicted, If Lesse Than The Benefit Of Transgressing,
Where The Punishment Is Annexed To The Law, A Greater Hurt Is Not
Hurt To Revolted Subjects Is Done By Right Of War, Not
Punishments Corporall
Capitall
Ignominy
Imprisonment
Exile
Salaries Certain And Casuall
Chapter XXIX. Of Those Things That Weaken, Or Tend To The Dissolution Of
Want Of Absolute Power
Private Judgement Of Good and Evill
Erroneous Conscience
Pretence Of Inspiration
Mixt Government
Want Of Mony
Monopolies And Abuses Of Publicans
Popular Men
Chapter XXX. Of The Office Of The Soveraign Representative
The Procuration Of The Good Of The People
The Use Of Universities
Equall Taxes
Publique Charity
Prevention Of Idlenesse
Good Lawes What
Punishments
Rewards
Counsellours
Commanders
Chapter XXXI. Of The Kingdome Of God By Nature
The Scope Of The Following Chapters
Who Are Subjects In The Kingdome Of God
A Threefold Word Of God, Reason, Revelation, Prophecy
Sinne Not The Cause Of All Affliction
Honour And Worship What
Severall Signes Of Honour
Attributes Of Divine Honour
Actions That Are Signes Of Divine Honour
Part III. Of A Christian Common-Wealth
Chapter XXXII. Of The Principles Of Christian Politiques
The Word Of God Delivered By Prophets Is The Main Principle
What It Is To Captivate The Understanding
By What Marks Prophets Are Known
The Marks Of A Prophet In The Old Law, Miracles, And Doctrine
Chapter XXXIII. Of The Number, Antiquity, Scope, Authority,
Of The Books Of Holy Scripture
Their Antiquity
The Pentateuch Not Written By Moses
The Book of Joshua Written After His Time
The Books Of The Kings, And The Chronicles
Ezra And Nehemiah
Esther
Job
The Psalter
The Proverbs
Ecclesiastes And The Canticles
The Prophets
The New Testament
Their Scope
Chapter XXXIV. Of The Signification Of Spirit, Angel, And Inspiration In
Body And Spirit How Taken In The Scripture
Spirit Of God Taken In The Scripture Sometimes For A Wind, Or Breath
Secondly, For Extraordinary Gifts Of The Understanding
Thirdly, For Extraordinary Affections
Fourthly, For The Gift Of Prediction By Dreams And Visions
Fiftly, For Life
Sixtly, For A Subordination To Authority
Seventhly, For Aeriall Bodies
Angel What
Inspiration What
Chapter XXXV. Of The Signification In Scripture Of Kingdome Of God, Of
Kingdom Of God Taken By Divines Metaphorically But In The Scriptures
The Originall Of The Kingdome Of God
That The Kingdome Of God Is Properly His Civill Soveraignty Over
Sacred What
Degrees of Sanctity
Sacrament
Chapter XXXVI. Of The Word Of God, And Of Prophets
Word What
The Words Spoken By God And Concerning God, Both Are Called Gods Word
Secondly, For The Effect Of His Word
Thirdly, For The Words Of Reason And Equity
Divers Acceptions Of The Word Prophet
Praediction Of Future Contingents, Not Alwaies Prophecy
The Manner How God Hath Spoken To The Prophets
To The Extraordinary Prophets Of The Old Testament He Spake
God Sometimes Also Spake By Lots
Every Man Ought To Examine The Probability Of A Pretended Prophets
All Prophecy But Of The Soveraign Prophet Is To Be Examined
Chapter XXXVII. Of Miracles, And Their Use
A Miracle Is A Work That Causeth Admiration
The End Of Miracles
The Definition Of A Miracle
That Men Are Apt To Be Deceived By False Miracles
Cautions Against The Imposture Of Miracles
Chapter XXXVIII. Of The Signification In Scripture Of Eternall Life,
Place Of Adams Eternity If He Had Not Sinned, The Terrestrial Paradise
Texts Concerning The Place Of Life Eternall For Beleevers
Ascension Into Heaven
The Place After Judgment, Of Those Who Were Never In The Kingdome
The Congregation Of Giants
Lake Of Fire
Utter Darknesse
Gehenna, And Tophet
Of The Literall Sense Of The Scripture Concerning Hell
Satan, Devill, Not Proper Names, But Appellatives
Torments Of Hell
The Joyes Of Life Eternall, And Salvation The Same Thing,
The Place Of Eternall Salvation
Redemption
Chapter XXXIX. Of The Signification In Scripture Of The Word Church
Church The Lords House
Ecclesia Properly What
In What Sense The Church Is One Person Church Defined
A Christian Common-Wealth, And A Church All One
Chapter XL
The Soveraign Rights Of Abraham
Abraham Had The Sole Power Of Ordering The Religion Of His Own People
The Authority Of Moses Whereon Grounded
Moses Was (Under God) Soveraign Of The Jews, All His Own Time,
The Practice Of Supremacy In Religion, Was Not In The Time Of The Kings,
After The Captivity The Jews Had No Setled Common-Wealth
Chapter XLI. Of The Office Of Our Blessed Saviour
Three Parts Of The Office Of Christ
His Office As A Redeemer
Christs Kingdome Not Of This World
Part Of His Office
The Preaching Of Christ Not Contrary To The Then Law Of The Jews,
The Third Part Of His Office Was To Be King (Under His Father)
Christs Authority In The Kingdome Of God Subordinate To His Father
One And The Same God Is The Person Represented By Moses, And By Christ
Chapter XLII. Of Power Ecclesiasticall
Of The Holy Spirit That Fel On The Apostles
Of The Trinity
From The Name Of Regeneration
From The Nature Of Faith:
Of Martyrs
To Preach
And Teach
To Baptize;
And To Forgive, And Retain Sinnes
Of Excommunication
Of Persons Liable To Excommunication
Of The Interpreter Of The Scriptures Before Civill Soveraigns
Matthias Made Apostle By The Congregation.
Ordination Of Teachers
Ministers Of The Church What
And How Chosen What
Of Ecclesiasticall Revenue, Under The Law Of Moses
In Our Saviours Time, And After
The Civill Soveraign Being A Christian Hath The Right Of Appointing
The Pastorall Authority Of Soveraigns Only Is De Jure Divino,
Christian Kings Have Power To Execute All Manner Of Pastoral Function
The Civill Soveraigne If A Christian, Is Head Of The Church
Cardinal Bellarmines Books De Summo Pontifice Considered
Texts For The Infallibility Of The Popes Judgement In Points Of Faith
Texts For The Same In Point Of Manners
Of The Popes Temporall Power
Chapter XLIII. Of What Is Necessary For A Mans Reception Into The Kingdom Of Heaven.
The Difficulty Of Obeying God And Man Both At Once
In The Faith Of A Christian, Who Is The Person Beleeved
The Causes Of Christian Faith
Faith Comes By Hearing
Proved From The Scope Of The Evangelists
From The Sermons Of The Apostles:
From The Easinesse Of The Doctrine:
That Faith, And Obedience Are Both Of Them Necessary To Salvation
What Each Of Them Contributes Thereunto
Chapter XLIV. Of Spirituall Darknesse From Misinterpretation Of Scripture
The Church Not Yet Fully Freed Of Darknesse
Four Causes Of Spirituall Darknesse
Errors From Misinterpreting The Scriptures, Concerning The Kingdome Of God
Incantation In The Ceremonies Of Baptisme
Errors From Mistaking Eternall Life, And Everlasting Death
As The Doctrine Of Purgatory, And Exorcismes, And Invocation Of Saints
The Texts Alledged For The Doctrines Aforementioned Have Been Answered Before
Answer To The Text On Which Beza Infereth
Explication Of The Place In Mark 9.1
Abuse Of Some Other Texts In Defence Of The Power Of The Pope
The Manner Of Consecrations In The Scripture, Was Without Exorcisms
The Immortality Of Mans Soule, Not Proved By Scripture To Be Of Nature, But Of Grace
Eternall Torments What
Answer Of The Texts Alledged For Purgatory
Places Of The New Testament For Purgatory Answered
Baptisme For The Dead, How Understood
Chapter XLV. Of Daemonology, And Other Reliques Of The Religion Of The Gentiles
The Originall Of Daemonology
What Were The Daemons Of The Ancients
How That Doctrine Was Spread
Why Our Saviour Controlled It Not
The Scriptures Doe Not Teach That Spirits Are Incorporeall
The Power Of Casting Out Devills, Not The Same It Was In The Primitive Church
Another Relique Of Gentilisme, Worshipping Images, Left In The Church
What Is Worship
Fictions; Materiall Images
Scandalous Worship Of Images
Painting Of Fancies No Idolatry: Abusing Them To Religious Worship Is
How Idolatry Was Left In The Church
Canonizing Of Saints
The Name Of Pontifex
Chapter XLVI. Of Darknesse From Vain Philosophy, And Fabulous Traditions
What Philosophy Is
University What It Is
Errors Brought Into Religion From Aristotles Metaphysiques
Errors Concerning Abstract Essences
One Body In Many Places, And Many Bodies In One Place At Once
Absurdities In Naturall Philosophy, As Gravity The Cause Of Heavinesse
Quantity Put Into Body Already Made
One Makes The Things Incongruent, Another The Incongruity
And That Lawfull Marriage Is Unchastity
And That All Government But Popular, Is Tyranny
That Not Men, But Law Governs
Laws Over The Conscience
Private Interpretation Of Law
Language Of Schoole-Divines
Errors From Tradition
Suppression Of Reason
Chapter XLVII. Of The Benefit That Proceedeth From Such Darknesse, And To Whom It Accreweth
He That Receiveth Benefit By A Fact, Is Presumed To Be The Author
That The Church Militant Is The Kingdome Of God, Was First Taught By The Church Of Rome
And Maintained Also By The Presbytery
The Authors Of Spirituall Darknesse, Who They Be
Comparison Of The Papacy With The Kingdome Of Fayries
A Review, And Conclusion
LEVIATHAN
{Illustrated}
Based on "1651" Print
by
THOMAS HOBBES
TO MY MOST HONOR'D FRIEND Mr. FRANCIS GODOLPHIN of GODOLPHIN
HONOR'D SIR.
Your most worthy Brother Mr SIDNEY GODOLPHIN, when he lived, was pleas'd to think my studies something, and otherwise to oblige me, as you know, with reall testimonies of his good opinion, great in themselves, and the greater for the worthinesse of his person. For there is not any vertue that disposeth a man, either to the service of God, or to the service of his Country, to Civill Society, or private Friendship, that did not manifestly appear in his conversation, not as acquired by necessity, or affected upon occasion, but inhaerent, and shining in a generous constitution of his nature. Therefore in honour and gratitude to him, and with devotion to your selfe, I humbly Dedicate unto you this my discourse of Common-wealth. I know not how the world will receive it, nor how it may reflect on those that shall seem to favour it. For in a way beset with those that contend on one side for too great Liberty, and on the other side for too much Authority, 'tis hard to passe between the points of both unwounded. But yet, me thinks, the endeavour to advance the Civill Power, should not be by the Civill Power condemned; nor private men, by reprehending it, declare they think that Power too great. Besides, I speak not of the men, but (in the Abstract) of the Seat of Power, (like to those simple and unpartiall creatures in the Roman Capitol, that with their noyse defended those within it, not because they were they, but there) offending none, I think, but those without, or such within (if there be any such) as favour them. That which perhaps may most offend, are certain Texts of Holy Scripture, alledged by me to other purpose than ordinarily they use to be by others. But I have done it with due submission, and also (in order to my Subject) necessarily; for they are the Outworks of the Enemy, from whence they impugne the Civill Power. If notwithstanding this, you find my labour generally decryed, you may be pleased to excuse your selfe, and say that I am a man that love my own opinions, and think all true I say, that I honoured your Brother, and honour you, and have presum'd on that, to assume the Title (without your knowledge) of being, as I am,
Sir,
Your most humble, and most obedient servant, Thomas Hobbes.
Paris APRILL 15/25 1651.
The Introduction
Nature (the art whereby God hath made and governes the world) is by the art of man, as in many other things, so in this also imitated, that it can make an Artificial Animal. For seeing life is but a motion of Limbs, the begining whereof is in some principall part within; why may we not say, that all Automata (Engines that move themselves by springs and wheeles as doth a watch) have an artificiall life? For what is the Heart, but a Spring; and the Nerves, but so many Strings; and the Joynts, but so many Wheeles, giving motion to the whole Body, such as was intended by the Artificer? Art goes yet further, imitating that Rationall and most excellent worke of Nature, Man. For by Art is created that great LEVIATHAN called a COMMON-WEALTH, or STATE, (in latine CIVITAS) which is but an Artificiall Man; though of greater stature and strength than the Naturall, for whose protection and defence it was intended; and in which, the Soveraignty is an Artificiall Soul, as giving life and motion to the whole body; The Magistrates, and other Officers of Judicature and Execution, artificiall Joynts; Reward and Punishment (by which fastned to the seat of the Soveraignty, every joynt and member is moved to performe his duty) are the Nerves, that do the same in the Body Naturall; The Wealth and Riches of all the particular members, are the Strength; Salus Populi (the Peoples Safety) its Businesse; Counsellors, by whom all things needfull for it to know, are suggested unto it, are the Memory; Equity and Lawes, an artificiall Reason and Will; Concord, Health; Sedition, Sicknesse; and Civill War, Death. Lastly, the Pacts and Covenants, by which the parts of this Body Politique were at first made, set together, and united, resemble that Fiat, or the Let Us Make Man, pronounced by God in the Creation.
To describe the Nature of this Artificiall man, I will consider
First the Matter thereof, and the Artificer; both which is Man.
Secondly, How, and by what Covenants it is made; what are the Rights and just Power or Authority of a Soveraigne; and what it is that Preserveth and Dissolveth it.
Thirdly, what is a Christian Common-Wealth.
Lastly, what is the Kingdome of Darkness.
Concerning the first, there is a saying much usurped of late, That Wisedome is acquired, not by reading of Books, but of Men. Consequently whereunto, those persons, that for the most part can give no other proof of being wise, take great delight to shew what they think they have read in men, by uncharitable censures of one another behind their backs. But there is another saying not of late understood, by which they might learn truly to read one another, if they would take the pains; and that is, Nosce Teipsum, Read Thy Self: which was not meant, as it is now used, to countenance, either the barbarous state of men in power, towards their inferiors; or to encourage men of low degree, to a sawcie behaviour towards their betters; But to teach us, that for the similitude of the thoughts, and Passions of one man, to the thoughts, and Passions of another, whosoever looketh into himselfe, and considereth what he doth, when he does Think, Opine, Reason, Hope, Feare, &c, and upon what grounds; he shall thereby read and know, what are the thoughts, and Passions of all other men, upon the like occasions. I say the similitude of Passions, which are the same in all men, Desire, Feare, Hope, &c; not the similitude or The Objects of the Passions, which are the things Desired, Feared, Hoped, &c: for these the constitution individuall, and particular education do so vary, and they are so easie to be kept from our knowledge, that the characters of mans heart, blotted and confounded as they are, with dissembling, lying, counterfeiting, and erroneous doctrines, are legible onely to him that searcheth hearts. And though by mens actions wee do discover their designee sometimes; yet to do it without comparing them with our own, and distinguishing all circumstances, by which the case may come to be altered, is to decypher without a key, and be for the most part deceived, by too much trust, or by too much diffidence; as he that reads, is himselfe a good or evill man.
But let one man read another by his actions never so perfectly, it serves him onely with his acquaintance, which are but few. He that is to govern a whole Nation, must read in himselfe, not this, or that particular man; but Man-kind; which though it be hard to do, harder than to learn any Language, or Science; yet, when I shall have set down my own reading orderly, and perspicuously, the pains left another, will be onely to consider, if he also find not the same in himselfe. For this kind of Doctrine, admitteth no other Demonstration.
Part 1 Of Man
Chapter I. Of Sense
Concerning the Thoughts of man, I will consider them first Singly, and afterwards in Trayne, or dependance upon one another. Singly, they are every one a Representation or Apparence, of some quality, or other Accident of a body without us; which is commonly called an Object. Which Object worketh on the Eyes, Eares, and other parts of mans body; and by diversity of working, produceth diversity of Apparences.
The Originall of them all, is that which we call Sense; (For there is no conception in a mans mind, which hath not at first, totally, or by parts, been begotten upon the organs of Sense.) The rest are derived from that originall.
To know the naturall cause of Sense, is not very necessary to the business now in hand; and I have els-where written of the same at large. Nevertheless, to fill each part of my present method, I will briefly deliver the same in this place.
The cause of Sense, is the Externall Body, or Object, which presseth the organ proper to each Sense, either immediatly, as in the Tast and Touch; or mediately, as in Seeing, Hearing, and Smelling: which pressure, by the mediation of Nerves, and other strings, and membranes of the body, continued inwards to the Brain, and Heart, causeth there a resistance, or counter-pressure, or endeavour of the heart, to deliver it self: which endeavour because Outward, seemeth to be some matter without. And this Seeming, or Fancy, is that which men call sense; and consisteth, as to the Eye, in a Light, or Colour Figured; To the Eare, in a Sound; To the Nostrill, in an Odour; To the Tongue and Palat, in a Savour; and to the rest of the body, in Heat, Cold, Hardnesse, Softnesse, and such other qualities, as we discern by Feeling. All which qualities called Sensible, are in the object that causeth them, but so many several motions of the matter, by which it presseth our organs diversly. Neither in us that are pressed, are they anything els, but divers motions; (for motion, produceth nothing but motion.) But their apparence to us is Fancy, the same waking, that dreaming. And as pressing, rubbing, or striking the Eye, makes us fancy a light; and pressing the Eare, produceth a dinne; so do the bodies also we see, or hear, produce the same by their strong, though unobserved action, For if those Colours, and Sounds, were in the Bodies, or Objects that cause them, they could not bee severed from them, as by glasses, and in Ecchoes by reflection, wee see they are; where we know the thing we see, is in one place; the apparence, in another. And though at some certain distance, the reall, and very object seem invested with the fancy it begets in us; Yet still the object is one thing, the image or fancy is another. So that Sense in all cases, is nothing els but originall fancy, caused (as I have said) by the pressure, that is, by the motion, of externall things upon our Eyes, Eares, and other organs thereunto ordained.
But the Philosophy-schooles, through all the Universities of Christendome, grounded upon certain Texts of Aristotle, teach another doctrine; and say, For the cause of Vision, that the thing seen, sendeth forth on every side a Visible Species(in English) a Visible Shew, Apparition, or Aspect, or a Being Seen; the receiving whereof into the Eye, is Seeing. And for the cause of Hearing, that the thing heard, sendeth forth an Audible Species, that is, an Audible Aspect, or Audible Being Seen; which entring at the Eare, maketh Hearing. Nay for the cause of Understanding also, they say the thing Understood sendeth forth Intelligible Species, that is, an Intelligible Being Seen; which comming into the Understanding, makes us Understand. I say not this, as disapproving the use of Universities: but because I am to speak hereafter of their office in a Common-wealth, I must let you see on all occasions by the way, what things would be amended in them; amongst which the frequency of insignificant Speech is one.
Chapter II. Of Imagination
That when a thing lies still, unlesse somewhat els stirre it, it will lye still for ever, is a truth that no man doubts of. But that when a thing is in motion, it will eternally be in motion, unless somewhat els stay it, though the reason be the same, (namely, that nothing can change it selfe,) is not so easily assented to. For men measure, not onely other men, but all other things, by themselves: and because they find themselves subject after motion to pain, and lassitude, think every thing els growes weary of motion, and seeks repose of its own accord; little considering, whether it be not some other motion, wherein that desire of rest they find in themselves, consisteth. From hence it is, that the Schooles say, Heavy bodies fall downwards, out of an appetite to rest, and to conserve their nature in that place which is most proper for them; ascribing appetite, and Knowledge of what is good for their conservation, (which is more than man has) to things inanimate absurdly.
When a Body is once in motion, it moveth (unless something els hinder it) eternally; and whatsoever hindreth it, cannot in an instant, but in time, and by degrees quite extinguish it: And as wee see in the water, though the wind cease, the waves give not over rowling for a long time after; so also it happeneth in that motion, which is made in the internall parts of a man, then, when he Sees, Dreams, &c. For after the object is removed, or the eye shut, wee still retain an image of the thing seen, though more obscure than when we see it. And this is it, that Latines call Imagination, from the image made in seeing; and apply the same, though improperly, to all the other senses. But the Greeks call it Fancy; which signifies Apparence, and is as proper to one sense, as to another. Imagination therefore is nothing but Decaying Sense; and is found in men, and many other living Creatures, as well sleeping, as waking.
Memory
The decay of Sense in men waking, is not the decay of the motion made in sense; but an obscuring of it, in such manner, as the light of the Sun obscureth the light of the Starres; which starrs do no less exercise their vertue by which they are visible, in the day, than in the night. But because amongst many stroaks, which our eyes, eares, and other organs receive from externall bodies, the predominant onely is sensible; therefore the light of the Sun being predominant, we are not affected with the action of the starrs. And any object being removed from our eyes, though the impression it made in us remain; yet other objects more present succeeding, and working on us, the Imagination of the past is obscured, and made weak; as the voyce of a man is in the noyse of the day. From whence it followeth, that the longer the time is, after the sight, or Sense of any object, the weaker is the Imagination. For the continuall change of mans body, destroyes in time the parts which in sense were moved: So that the distance of time, and of place, hath one and the same effect in us. For as at a distance of place, that which wee look at, appears dimme, and without distinction of the smaller parts; and as Voyces grow weak, and inarticulate: so also after great distance of time, our imagination of the Past is weak; and wee lose( for example) of Cities wee have seen, many particular Streets; and of Actions, many particular Circumstances. This Decaying Sense, when wee would express the thing it self, (I mean Fancy it selfe,) wee call Imagination, as I said before; But when we would express the Decay, and signifie that the Sense is fading, old, and past, it is called Memory. So that Imagination and Memory, are but one thing, which for divers considerations hath divers names.
Much memory, or memory of many things, is called Experience. Againe, Imagination being only of those things which have been formerly perceived by Sense, either all at once, or by parts at severall times; The former, (which is the imagining the whole object, as it was presented to the sense) is Simple Imagination; as when one imagineth a man, or horse, which he hath seen before. The other is Compounded; as when from the sight of a man at one time, and of a horse at another, we conceive in our mind a Centaure. So when a man compoundeth the image of his own person, with the image of the actions of an other man; as when a man imagins himselfe a Hercules, or an Alexander, (which happeneth often to them that are much taken with reading of Romants) it is a compound imagination, and properly but a Fiction of the mind. There be also other Imaginations that rise in men, (though waking) from the great impression made in sense; As from gazing upon the Sun, the impression leaves an image of the Sun before our eyes a long time after; and from being long and vehemently attent upon Geometricall Figures, a man shall in the dark, (though awake) have the Images of Lines, and Angles before his eyes: which kind of Fancy hath no particular name; as being a thing that doth not commonly fall into mens discourse.
Dreams
The imaginations of them that sleep, are those we call Dreams. And these also (as all other Imaginations) have been before, either totally, or by parcells in the Sense. And because in sense, the Brain, and Nerves, which are the necessary Organs of sense, are so benummed in sleep, as not easily to be moved by the action of Externall Objects, there can happen in sleep, no Imagination; and therefore no Dreame, but what proceeds from the agitation of the inward parts of mans body; which inward parts, for the connexion they have with the Brayn, and other Organs, when they be distempered, do keep the same in motion; whereby the Imaginations there formerly made, appeare as if a man were waking; saving that the Organs of Sense being now benummed, so as there is no new object, which can master and obscure them with a more vigorous impression, a Dreame must needs be more cleare, in this silence of sense, than are our waking thoughts. And hence it cometh to pass, that it is a hard matter, and by many thought impossible to distinguish exactly between Sense and Dreaming. For my part, when I consider, that in Dreames, I do not often, nor constantly think of the same Persons, Places, Objects, and Actions that I do waking; nor remember so long a trayne of coherent thoughts, Dreaming, as at other times; And because waking I often observe the absurdity of Dreames, but never dream of the absurdities of my waking Thoughts; I am well satisfied, that being awake, I know I dreame not; though when I dreame, I think my selfe awake.
And seeing dreames are caused by the distemper of some of the inward parts of the Body; divers distempers must needs cause different Dreams. And hence it is, that lying cold breedeth Dreams of Feare, and raiseth the thought and Image of some fearfull object (the motion from the brain to the inner parts, and from the inner parts to the Brain being reciprocall:) and that as Anger causeth heat in some parts of the Body, when we are awake; so when we sleep, the over heating of the same parts causeth Anger, and raiseth up in the brain the Imagination of an Enemy. In the same manner; as naturall kindness, when we are awake causeth desire; and desire makes heat in certain other parts of the body; so also, too much heat in those parts, while wee sleep, raiseth in the brain an imagination of some kindness shewn. In summe, our Dreams are the reverse of our waking Imaginations; The motion when we are awake, beginning at one end; and when we Dream, at another.
Apparitions Or Visions
The most difficult discerning of a mans Dream, from his waking thoughts, is then, when by some accident we observe not that we have slept: which is easie to happen to a man full of fearfull thoughts; and whose conscience is much troubled; and that sleepeth, without the circumstances, of going to bed, or putting off his clothes, as one that noddeth in a chayre. For he that taketh pains, and industriously layes himselfe to sleep, in case any uncouth and exorbitant fancy come unto him, cannot easily think it other than a Dream. We read of Marcus Brutes, (one that had his life given him by Julius Caesar, and was also his favorite, and notwithstanding murthered him,) how at Phillipi, the night before he gave battell to Augustus Caesar, he saw a fearfull apparition, which is commonly related by Historians as a Vision: but considering the circumstances, one may easily judge to have been but a short Dream. For sitting in his tent, pensive and troubled with the horrour of his rash act, it was not hard for him, slumbering in the cold, to dream of that which most affrighted him; which feare, as by degrees it made him wake; so also it must needs make the Apparition by degrees to vanish: And having no assurance that he slept, he could have no cause to think it a Dream, or any thing but a Vision. And this is no very rare Accident: for even they that be perfectly awake, if they be timorous, and supperstitious, possessed with fearfull tales, and alone in the dark, are subject to the like fancies, and believe they see spirits and dead mens Ghosts walking in Churchyards; whereas it is either their Fancy onely, or els the knavery of such persons, as make use of such superstitious feare, to pass disguised in the night, to places they would not be known to haunt.
From this ignorance of how to distinguish Dreams, and other strong Fancies, from vision and Sense, did arise the greatest part of the Religion of the Gentiles in time past, that worshipped Satyres, Fawnes, nymphs, and the like; and now adayes the opinion than rude people have of Fayries, Ghosts, and Goblins; and of the power of Witches. For as for Witches, I think not that their witch craft is any reall power; but yet that they are justly punished, for the false beliefe they have, that they can do such mischiefe, joyned with their purpose to do it if they can; their trade being neerer to a new Religion, than to a Craft or Science. And for Fayries, and walking Ghosts, the opinion of them has I think been on purpose, either taught, or not confuted, to keep in credit the use of Exorcisme, of Crosses, of holy Water, and other such inventions of Ghostly men. Neverthelesse, there is no doubt, but God can make unnaturall Apparitions. But that he does it so often, as men need to feare such things, more than they feare the stay, or change, of the course of Nature, which he also can stay, and change, is no point of Christian faith. But evill men under pretext that God can do any thing, are so bold as to say any thing when it serves their turn, though they think it untrue; It is the part of a wise man, to believe them no further, than right reason makes that which they say, appear credible. If this superstitious fear of Spirits were taken away, and with it, Prognostiques from Dreams, false Prophecies, and many other things depending thereon, by which, crafty ambitious persons abuse the simple people, men would be much more fitted than they are for civill Obedience.
And this ought to be the work of the Schooles; but they rather nourish such doctrine. For (not knowing what Imagination, or the Senses are), what they receive, they teach: some saying, that Imaginations rise of themselves, and have no cause: Others that they rise most commonly from the Will; and that Good thoughts are blown (inspired) into a man, by God; and evill thoughts by the Divell: or that Good thoughts are powred (infused) into a man, by God; and evill ones by the Divell. Some say the Senses receive the Species of things, and deliver them to the Common-sense; and the Common Sense delivers them over to the Fancy, and the Fancy to the Memory, and the Memory to the Judgement, like handing of things from one to another, with many words making nothing understood.
Understanding
The Imagination that is raysed in man (or any other creature indued with the faculty of imagining) by words, or other voluntary signes, is that we generally call Understanding; and is common to Man and Beast. For a dogge by custome will understand the call, or the rating of his Master; and so will many other Beasts. That Understanding which is peculiar to man, is the Understanding not onely his will; but his conceptions and thoughts, by the sequell and contexture of the names of things into Affirmations, Negations, and other formes of Speech: And of this kinde of Understanding I shall speak hereafter.
Chapter III. Of The Consequence Or Trayne Of Imaginations
By Consequence, or Trayne of Thoughts, I understand that succession of one Thought to another, which is called (to distinguish it from Discourse in words) Mentall Discourse.
When a man thinketh on any thing whatsoever, His next Thought after, is not altogether so casuall as it seems to be. Not every Thought to every Thought succeeds indifferently. But as wee have no Imagination, whereof we have not formerly had Sense, in whole, or in parts; so we have no Transition from one Imagination to another, whereof we never had the like before in our Senses. The reason whereof is this. All Fancies are Motions within us, reliques of those made in the Sense: And those motions that immediately succeeded one another in the sense, continue also together after Sense: In so much as the former comming again to take place, and be praedominant, the later followeth, by coherence of the matter moved, is such manner, as water upon a plain Table is drawn which way any one part of it is guided by the finger. But because in sense, to one and the same thing perceived, sometimes one thing, sometimes another succeedeth, it comes to passe in time, that in the Imagining of any thing, there is no certainty what we shall Imagine next; Onely this is certain, it shall be something that succeeded the same before, at one time or another.
Trayne Of Thoughts Unguided
This Trayne of Thoughts, or Mentall Discourse, is of two sorts. The first is Unguided, Without Designee, and inconstant; Wherein there is no Passionate Thought, to govern and direct those that follow, to it self, as the end and scope of some desire, or other passion: In which case the thoughts are said to wander, and seem impertinent one to another, as in a Dream. Such are Commonly the thoughts of men, that are not onely without company, but also without care of any thing; though even then their Thoughts are as busie as at other times, but without harmony; as the sound which a Lute out of tune would yeeld to any man; or in tune, to one that could not play. And yet in this wild ranging of the mind, a man may oft-times perceive the way of it, and the dependance of one thought upon another. For in a Discourse of our present civill warre, what could seem more impertinent, than to ask (as one did) what was the value of a Roman Penny? Yet the Cohaerence to me was manifest enough. For the Thought of the warre, introduced the Thought of the delivering up the King to his Enemies; The Thought of that, brought in the Thought of the delivering up of Christ; and that again the Thought of the 30 pence, which was the price of that treason: and thence easily followed that malicious question; and all this in a moment of time; for Thought is quick.
Trayne Of Thoughts Regulated
The second is more constant; as being Regulated by some desire, and designee. For the impression made by such things as wee desire, or feare, is strong, and permanent, or, (if it cease for a time,) of quick return: so strong it is sometimes, as to hinder and break our sleep. From Desire, ariseth the Thought of some means we have seen produce the like of that which we ayme at; and from the thought of that, the thought of means to that mean; and so continually, till we come to some beginning within our own power. And because the End, by the greatnesse of the impression, comes often to mind, in case our thoughts begin to wander, they are quickly again reduced into the way: which observed by one of the seven wise men, made him give men this praecept, which is now worne out, Respice Finem; that is to say, in all your actions, look often upon what you would have, as the thing that directs all your thoughts in the way to attain it.
Remembrance
The Trayn of regulated Thoughts is of two kinds; One, when of an effect imagined, wee seek the causes, or means that produce it: and this is common to Man and Beast. The other is, when imagining any thing whatsoever, wee seek all the possible effects, that can by it be produced; that is to say, we imagine what we can do with it, when wee have it. Of which I have not at any time seen any signe, but in man onely; for this is a curiosity hardly incident to the nature of any living creature that has no other Passion but sensuall, such as are hunger, thirst, lust, and anger. In summe, the Discourse of the Mind, when it is governed by designee, is nothing but Seeking, or the faculty of Invention, which the Latines call Sagacitas, and Solertia; a hunting out of the causes, of some effect, present or past; or of the effects, of some present or past cause, sometimes a man seeks what he hath lost; and from that place, and time, wherein hee misses it, his mind runs back, from place to place, and time to time, to find where, and when he had it; that is to say, to find some certain, and limited time and place, in which to begin a method of seeking. Again, from thence, his thoughts run over the same places and times, to find what action, or other occasion might make him lose it. This we call Remembrance, or Calling to mind: the Latines call it Reminiscentia, as it were a Re-Conning of our former actions.
Sometimes a man knows a place determinate, within the compasse whereof his is to seek; and then his thoughts run over all the parts thereof, in the same manner, as one would sweep a room, to find a jewell; or as a Spaniel ranges the field, till he find a sent; or as a man should run over the alphabet, to start a rime.
Prudence
Sometime a man desires to know the event of an action; and then he thinketh of some like action past, and the events thereof one after another; supposing like events will follow like actions. As he that foresees what wil become of a Criminal, re-cons what he has seen follow on the like Crime before; having this order of thoughts, The Crime, the Officer, the Prison, the Judge, and the Gallowes. Which kind of thoughts, is called Foresight, and Prudence, or Providence; and sometimes Wisdome; though such conjecture, through the difficulty of observing all circumstances, be very fallacious. But this is certain; by how much one man has more experience of things past, than another; by so much also he is more Prudent, and his expectations the seldomer faile him. The Present onely has a being in Nature; things Past have a being in the Memory onely, but things To Come have no being at all; the Future being but a fiction of the mind, applying the sequels of actions Past, to the actions that are Present; which with most certainty is done by him that has most Experience; but not with certainty enough. And though it be called Prudence, when the Event answereth our Expectation; yet in its own nature, it is but Presumption. For the foresight of things to come, which is Providence, belongs onely to him by whose will they are to come. From him onely, and supernaturally, proceeds Prophecy. The best Prophet naturally is the best guesser; and the best guesser, he that is most versed and studied in the matters he guesses at: for he hath most Signes to guesse by.
Signes
A Signe, is the Event Antecedent, of the Consequent; and contrarily, the Consequent of the Antecedent, when the like Consequences have been observed, before: And the oftner they have been observed, the lesse uncertain is the Signe. And therefore he that has most experience in any kind of businesse, has most Signes, whereby to guesse at the Future time, and consequently is the most prudent: And so much more prudent than he that is new in that kind of business, as not to be equalled by any advantage of naturall and extemporary wit: though perhaps many young men think the contrary.
Neverthelesse it is not Prudence that distinguisheth man from beast. There be beasts, that at a year old observe more, and pursue that which is for their good, more prudently, than a child can do at ten.
Conjecture Of The Time Past
As Prudence is a Praesumtion of the Future, contracted from the Experience of time Past; So there is a Praesumtion of things Past taken from other things (not future but) past also. For he that hath seen by what courses and degrees, a flourishing State hath first come into civill warre, and then to ruine; upon the sights of the ruines of any other State, will guesse, the like warre, and the like courses have been there also. But his conjecture, has the same incertainty almost with the conjecture of the Future; both being grounded onely upon Experience.
