Behemoth

The Behemoth is Thomas Hobbes' last major work of political philosophy, written around 1668 after the restoration of the monarchy in England. Initially banned by the king, it offers a sharp analysis of the tumultuous two-decade period between the Long Parliament's summons (1640) and its dissolution (1660). This book contains a detailed account of the dramatic events of a pivotal time in English history: the civil war, the traumatic experience of regicide, the disruption to monarchical continuity with the republic's proclamation, and the establishment of Cromwell's protectorate.

At its core, The Behemoth is an in-depth examination of the causes of Hobbes' perception of the greatest collective catastrophe: the civil war. This state of widespread conflict, where all political bonds are dissolved, presents a unique opportunity for the philosopher to investigate human nature, which is the subject matter of both order and disorder.

Published posthumously in 2013, this work serves as a complement to Hobbes' earlier magnum opus, Leviathan. Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) was an English philosopher who received his higher education at Oxford's Magdalen Hall. During his travels on the continent, he became acquainted with prominent scientists such as Galileo, Descartes, and Gassendi.