'… an outstanding treatment of seventeenth-century political philosophy … Harrison is far more philosophically tenacious than are most commentators on the political thought of this period. His questing interpretations of the works of familiar authors tease out puzzles in their arguments that are rarely discussed … He is sensitive to historical context in which the theories emerged and the historical situations of their authors. He presents the work of Grotius, Hobbes etc. as attempts to deal with the problems raised by war and civil conflict, and weaves historical and philosophical themes together with immense skill.' Susan James, Birkbeck College, University of London

• Introduction; 1. The word; 2. The great beast Leviathan; 3. The state of nature's law; 4. The birth of justice; 5. War and peace; 6. Locke's law; 7. Disobedient Locke; 8. The key to Locke's property; 9. Why utility pleases.

'… an outstanding treatment of seventeenth-century political philosophy … Harrison is far more philosophically tenacious than are most commentators on the political thought of this period. His questing interpretations of the works of familiar authors tease out puzzles in their arguments that are rarely discussed … He is sensitive to historical context in which the theories emerged and the historical situations of their authors. He presents the work of Grotius, Hobbes etc. as attempts to deal with the problems raised by war and civil conflict, and weaves historical and philosophical themes together with immense skill.' Susan James, Birkbeck College, University of London

• Introduction; 1. The word; 2. The great beast Leviathan; 3. The state of nature's law; 4. The birth of justice; 5. War and peace; 6. Locke's law; 7. Disobedient Locke; 8. The key to Locke's property; 9. Why utility pleases.

'… an outstanding treatment of seventeenth-century political philosophy … Harrison is far more philosophically tenacious than are most commentators on the political thought of this period. His questing interpretations of the works of familiar authors tease out puzzles in their arguments that are rarely discussed … He is sensitive to historical context in which the theories emerged and the historical situations of their authors. He presents the work of Grotius, Hobbes etc. as attempts to deal with the problems raised by war and civil conflict, and weaves historical and philosophical themes together with immense skill.' Susan James, Birkbeck College, University of London

• Introduction; 1. The word; 2. The great beast Leviathan; 3. The state of nature's law; 4. The birth of justice; 5. War and peace; 6. Locke's law; 7. Disobedient Locke; 8. The key to Locke's property; 9. Why utility pleases.