Morality in the Philosophy of Thomas Hobbes: Cases in the Law of Nature

In this book, S. A. Lloyd offers a radically new interpretation of Hobbes s laws of nature, revealing them to be not egoistic precepts of personal prudence but rather moral instructions for obtaining the common good. This account of Hobbes s moral philosophy stands in contrast to both divine command and rational choice interpretations. Drawing from the core notion of reciprocity, Lloyd explains Hobbes s system of cases in the law of nature and situates Hobbes s moral philosophy in the broader context of his political philosophy and views on religion. Offering ingenious new arguments, Lloyd defends a reciprocity interpretation of the laws of nature through which humanity s common good is secured."