De Corpore Politico, or The Elements of Law

Hobbes's masterpiece of 1651, where life without government is nasty, brutish and short, and a social contract creates an all-powerful sovereign. The complete text, including the parts on religion and the church.

Thomas Hobbes

The English version of De Cive, where Hobbes first set out his case for peace under an absolute sovereign. Its three parts move from liberty to dominion to religion, in a shorter path than Leviathan.

Thomas Hobbes

A philosopher and a lawyer argue over who really makes the law, the judges or the sovereign. Hobbes's late challenge to Sir Edward Coke and the common law tradition.

Thomas Hobbes