Leviathan (Books III and IV)


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(4.1 stars; 36 reviews)

In Books 3 and 4 of Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes elaborates on the political philosophy set forth in the first two books, by considering the nature of a Christian commonwealth. Book 3 begins with a wealth of biblical scholarship, directed at establishing the authority of Scripture while at the same time undermining modern claims to supernatural revelation that would subvert civil law. Hobbes concludes that we cannot be sure of anyone else's divine revelation, and that religious authority is therefore subordinate to civil power. Book 4, titled “Of the Kingdom of Darkness,” sets forth the various ways in which Scripture has been misinterpreted by the church, according to Hobbes, in mixing pagan elements with Christianity.
(Summary adapted from Wikipedia by Leon Mire) (10 hr 54 min)

Chapters

Chapter XXXII – Of the Principles of Christian Politics 13:46 Read by Carl Manchester
Chapter XXXIII – Of the Number, Antiquity, Scope, Authority, and Interpreters o… 26:40 Read by David Higham
Chapter XXXIV – Of the Signification of Spirit, Angel, and Inspiration in the B… 31:52 Read by Ashwin Jain
Chapter XXXV – Of the Signification in Scripture of Kingdom of God, of Holy, Sa… 17:49 Read by Sibella Denton
Chapter XXXVI – Of the Word of God, and of Prophets 36:45 Read by David Higham
Chapter XXXVII – Of Miracles and Their Use 16:26 Read by Sibella Denton
Chapter XXXVIII – Of the Signification in Scripture of Eternal Life, Hell, Salv… 36:06 Read by Sibella Denton
Chapter XXXIX – Of the Signification in Scripture of the Word Church 5:58 Read by Sibella Denton
Chapter XL – Of the Rights of the Kingdom of God, in Abraham, Moses, the High P… 32:26 Read by Nacelle Droll
Chapter XLI – Of the Office of Our Blessed Saviour 19:35 Read by Ashwin Jain
Chapter XLII – Of Power Ecclesiastical, Part 1 29:10 Read by Geoffrey Edwards
Chapter XLII – Of Power Ecclesiastical, Part 2 37:48 Read by Geoffrey Edwards
Chapter XLII – Of Power Ecclesiastical, Part 3 28:28 Read by Geoffrey Edwards
Chapter XLII – Of Power Ecclesiastical, Part 4 20:37 Read by Geoffrey Edwards
Chapter XLII – Of Power Ecclesiastical, Part 5 40:04 Read by Geoffrey Edwards
Chapter XLII – Of Power Ecclesiastical, Part 6 29:22 Read by Geoffrey Edwards
Chapter XLIII – Of What is Necessary for a Man's Redemption into the Kingdom of… 34:37 Read by Jessica Louise
Chapter XLIV – Of Spiritual Darkness from Misinterpretation of Scripture, Part 1 37:59 Read by Jamie Ash Young
Chapter XLIV – Of Spiritual Darkness from Misinterpretation of Scripture, Part 2 25:47 Read by Sibella Denton
Chapter XLV – Of Demonology and Other Relics of the Religion of the Gentiles, P… 24:33 Read by Sibella Denton
Chapter XLV – Of Demonology and Other Relics of the Religion of the Gentiles, P… 22:42 Read by Sibella Denton
Chapter XLVI – Of Darkness from Vain Philosophy and Fabulous Traditions 42:01 Read by Sibella Denton
Chapter XLVII – Of the Benefit that Proceedeth from Such Darkness, and to Whom … 20:23 Read by Sibella Denton
Chapter XLVIII – A Review and Conclusion 23:26 Read by Sibella Denton

Reviews


(5 stars)

Incomprehensible without a solid knowledge of the Old Testament and the Bible.

Good but not great


(3 stars)

A good variety of competent readers but others were difficult to understand.

good, except Ashwin Jain


(5 stars)

if you are just curious about Hobbes’s politics, and not so much his religious stuff, you might skip these last two volumes tbh, and stick to the other audiobook

some readers are not of sufficient quality


(2.5 stars)

Most readers are great. Two readers are not understandable.