The Metaphysical System of Hobbes (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from The Metaphysical System of Hobbes: In Twelve Chapters From Elements of Philosophy Concerning Body; Together With Briefer Extracts From Human Nature and LeviathanThis condensation of the English version of Hobbes's book Concerning Body has been made, because the work is the completest summary of the metaphysical teaching of Hobbes and because there exists no inexpensive reprint or compendium of it. The ethical and social doctrines of Hobbes may be readily studied at first hand, by the aid of modern editions of the Leviathan or of volumes of selections from the writings of Hobbes; but for his strictly metaphysical teaching one must now have recourse to the volumes of the Molesworth edition. Teachers of modern philosophy who believe, with the writer, that the study of original texts is of incomparable value to the student must have been puzzled in their efforts to be just to the claims of materialism. Convenient expositions of idealism are readily found in the editions of Berkeley's Principles and Dialogues. But no historically important summary of materialistic doctrine has, so far, been accessible. This volume aims to supply the need and also to give an adequate impression of the Elements of Philosophy Concerning Body. To gain the latter end, chapters have been included from all four Parts of the work, and the headings of omitted chapters have been printed in full.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com