Taming the Leviathan

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Focusing on the reception of Hobbes's political and religious ideas, this study reveals the complexities surrounding his controversial reputation in the seventeenth century. Jon Parkin argues against the notion that Hobbes was simply dismissed; instead, he illustrates how his influential texts, particularly Leviathan, were both essential and contentious. The book explores how contemporaries engaged with Hobbes's work, attempting to control its radical implications while simultaneously absorbing its lessons. This fresh perspective reshapes our understanding of Hobbes's impact during his time.