INTRODUCTION BY THE EDITORS Gilbert Ryle, in his Concept of Mind (1949), attacked volitional theories of human actions; JL Austin, in his "If and Cans" ...

The primary purpose of this book is to explain the key concepts in Hobbes's thought and those subsidiary concepts that are important but not well known. Occasionally, I shall raise objections to Hobbes's views and sometimes suggest how he might have responded. The reason for doing so is to help the reader to understand what I take Hobbes to mean by considering the implications of his thought. Where there are apparent contradictions in Hobbes's thought, I have noted them and sometimes (...) suggest reasons for them or ways of eliminating them without trying to force an interpretation on the text. Interpretations of Hobbes's thought vary widely. I have tried to steer a course between being partisan and being uncritical. The secondary purpose of this book is to refer the reader to the chief discussions of those concepts in Hobbes's own work. (shrink)