The Fiat of ‘Leviathan’: “Let us Make Man”
Author: Jui-Chung Chen
Abstract / Chinese PDF Download
This article argues that Thomas Hobbes’ ‘Leviathan’ is not only a masterpieceof political philosophy but also a milestone in political education. Beginning fromthe interpretation of the fiat of “let us make man,” the author of ‘Leviathan’endeavors to persuade his educated civilian people to recognize the proper way toconstruct the right state so as to solve the predicament of the state of war. He alsoendeavors to persuade them to uphold relations between the unique creation-Leviathan and the state after it is in possession of a brand new identity. TheLeviathan that is produced from ‘Leviathan’ becomes a reliable ‘garden of Eden’ onearth and the subjects of Leviathan become Adams and Eves who choose to obeythe precepts of the mortal god in new Eden for a new life one that is safe, free andpeaceful and involves never “eating” the fruits of the tree of good and bad, whatevertemptations they may encounter.