De Cive

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
De Cive , 1642

De Cive ( Latin for about the citizen ) is the short title of one of the main works by Thomas Hobbes . In the first edition of 1642, this font was entitled Elementorum philosophiae sectio tertia de cive . The later editions were titled Elementa philosophica de cive .

Emergence

The original title refers to Hobbes' intention to publish the book as the third part of his philosophical system of "Elementa philosophiae", which should also include the system parts "De corpore" (Of the body) and "De homine" (Of man). The later title goes back to a suggestion by Hobbes' publisher, who suggested, for economic reasons, that the reference to the system should be suppressed. Political unrest compelled Hobbes to write De Cive first , even though this work should systematically be at the end. It is composed of three parts: Libertas ( freedom ), Imperium ( rule ) and Religio ( religion ).

content

In the first part, Hobbes describes the natural state in which man is initially, and natural law , which for Hobbes has no ethical basis, but only specifies how one should act optimally (out of self-interest) (Chapter II, § 1). In the second part he explains the need to establish a stable government in the interests of all individuals. In the last part, the most important claims are supported with theological arguments.

Editions and translations

The book was published in Latin in 1642, followed by a revised or amended version in 1647, in which Hobbes responded to objections from his critics in a few comments. An English translation, which came about without Hobbes' participation, was first published in 1651 under the title Philosophicall Rudiments Concerning Government and Society . Previously there was a French translation in 1649 under the title Elemens philosophiqves du citoyen. Traicté politiqve, où Les Fondements de la Societé civile sont decouverts (translator: Samuel Sorbière) published.

Text output

  • Thomas Hobbes: Elementorum Philosophiæ: sectio tertia; de cive. Paris 1642.
  • Thomas Hobbes: Elementa philosophica de cive. Amsterdam 1647.
  • Thomas Hobbes: Hobbes: De Cive. The Latin Version. A Critical Edition by Howard Warrender, Oxford 1983 [The Clarendon Edition of the Philosophical Works of Thomas Hobbes, vol. II]
  • Thomas Hobbes: De cive / From the citizen. Latin / German. Edited with the collaboration of Isabella Zühlke by Andree Hahmann and Dieter Hüning. Translated by Andree Hahmann. Ditzingen 2017 [Reclams Universal Library No. 18601]. [The printing of the Latin text follows the edition Thomas Hobbes: De Cive. The Latin Version. Critical Edition by Howard Warrender, Oxford 1983].
  • Hobbes: Vom Bürger Vom Menschen Ed. Lothar Waas Translated by Lothar Waas Felix Meiner Verlag Hamburg 2017

literature

  • Georg Geismann , Karlfriedrich Herb (Hrsg.): Hobbes on freedom . Dedication letter, foreword to the readers and Chapters I-III from "De Cive", Würzburg 1988.
  • Dieter Hüning: Freedom and rule in the legal philosophy of Thomas Hobbes , Berlin 1998.

Web link