An Analysis of the Topic of the English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution by Thomas Hobbes in Leviathan and John Locke in Two Treaties on Government
Leviathan is a term commonly used to refer to a monstrous mythical sea creature, first referenced in the Bible in passages such as Job 41:1-34 In modern terms, the word is often used to describe a large, oppressive force or organization. For example, a government might be referred to as a leviathan, as Thomas Hobbes famously did in his book, Leviathan, which was published in 1651. In it, Hobbes argued in support of an absolute monarchy as a necessary and powerful form of government to protect citizens from the horrors of anarchy and civil war.
Essay Topic Ideas:
1. Explore the ways in which Thomas Hobbes’ political theory of an absolute monarchy as expressed in his book Leviathan is still relevant to societies today.
2. Analyze the symbolic significance of the Leviathan in biblical texts and its relevance today.
3. Consider how the metaphor of the Leviathan has been used in literature to discuss oppressive forces and structures.
4. Examine the portrayal of government power as a potentially dangerous Leviathan in modern popular culture.
5. Evaluate the accuracy of the metaphor of a Leviathan used to refer to a large, oppressive force or organization.