MODERN SCIENCE AND THOMAS HOBBES

Abstract

THREE hundred years ago appeared the first of Hobbes's chief philosophical works, his “De Cive”. The “Leviathan” followed in 1645, the “De Corpore” in 1655 and the “De Homine” three years later. Few scientific men would claim to read these works to-day, and in the history of science Hobbes is usually given little notice. 1642 is famous rather as the date of Galileo's death and Newton's birth. The scientific movement was at this time gaining momentum ; scientific societies were springing up in Florence, London and Paris and gaining the support of men of wide interests as well as the 'mathematical heads'. Evelyn and Pepys, Chapelain and Perrault illustrate the general appeal which science then made. “This is the age,” wrote Power, “wherein methinks, philosophy comes in with a spring tide.”