Hobbes on Law

In the course of articulating his monumental theory of political justification, Thomas Hobbes developed a sustained and detailed approach to law and legal questions. Unfortunately legal philosophers have largely ignored Hobbes' remarks on law, and philosophers have only begun to explore it. This collection aims to spur interest in Hobbes' legal philosophy, by collecting the best recent philosophical writings on Hobbes' views on law. The essays address questions such as whether Hobbes was a positivist, a natural law theorist or neither. They also address Hobbes' treatment of natural law, his account of equity, as well as his more specific views on topics like contract, punishment, self-defense, civil disobedience, and international law. The essays collected here provide an excellent survey of the various legal questions Hobbes addressed.