Book Review: Thomas Hobbes's "Leviathan" – Why Experience and Reason Are Our Greatest Guides

 Thomas Hobbes's Leviathan, in this insightful edition by Pulbit, offers a timeless exploration of human nature, society, and the foundations of political power. While the commentary included in this version may not suit every reader, it provides a valuable framework for understanding Hobbes's dense and profoundly influential work. This review delves into two core themes that resonate just as strongly today as they did in the 17th century: the primacy of experience and the rational origins of belief.

At the heart of Hobbes's philosophy is a staunch empiricism. He argues that "the most prudent man is the one who has the most experience." Our capacity for imagination and judgment, according to Hobbes, is built upon the vast library of our memories. The more we experience, the more material we have to draw from, allowing for more careful and considered decisions. However, Hobbes astutely notes the inherent limitations of this. No single individual can experience everything, and as the world changes, so too does the relevance of past experiences. This leads to an essential conclusion: human knowledge and judgment are perpetually uncertain and can never claim absolute universality.

This perspective strongly resonates with my own. We think and imagine only as far as our experiences allow. When faced with a choice, we inevitably fall back on what we know and what we've lived through. This is why a commitment to lifelong learning and the accumulation of diverse experiences is crucial for a well-lived life. Books, like this one, are the most cost-effective means of gaining indirect experience. Yet, theory alone is insufficient. As the review wisely notes, "After gaining theory (from books), one must put it into practice (experience)." It is through this synthesis of reading and doing that information becomes true wisdom, our own unique expertise. In an age of infinite information, it is the deliberate act of internalizing and applying knowledge—transforming it through self-reflection—that fosters true growth.

Another profound insight from Leviathan is that "every event has a cause." Hobbes contended that in the absence of a scientific understanding of natural causes, fear and ignorance lead humanity to invent unseen powers. These imagined forces—born from our anxiety about good or bad fortune—become the seeds of what we call "religion" when it is our own belief, and "superstition" when it is the belief of others.

For centuries, phenomena we couldn't explain, from disease to weather patterns, were attributed to the whims of gods, spirits, or deities. Humanity offered sacrifices and performed rituals to appease these invisible forces. Today, science and medicine have unveiled the true causes: diseases are caused by viruses and bacteria, and natural phenomena are the results of measurable forces like atmospheric pressure, temperature, and gravitational pull. Hobbes's critique was not of faith itself, but of the reliance on supernatural explanations for events that have rational, observable causes.

This edition of Leviathan, while containing an interpreter's analysis, serves as a powerful reminder of Hobbes's enduring relevance. It encourages us to ground our understanding of the world in reason and experience, to be wary of easy answers, and to actively seek knowledge. It is a highly recommended read for anyone willing to grapple with the fundamental questions of human nature and society, and to forge their own understanding through critical thought and lived experience.