Nothing but the Name of God. Hobbes on Theology and Religion

Les Dossiers du GRIHL

关键词: Hobbes;    Bramhall;    religion;    theology;    atheism;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Throughout centuries of scholarship written on Thomas Hobbes, the question of the English philosopher’s religion has always been one of the most attractive and debated issues. Since the 17th century many of his readers, such as Bishop John Bramhall, strongly doubted about his orthodoxy, wondering if Hobbes was not some kind of hidden atheist. Even in 20th century, scholars of Hobbes deeply debated this issue, but many interpreters often focused only on theological and theological-political issues in Hobbes’ philosophy, without carefully considering the relationship between his religious ideas and Hobbes’ so-called “philosophia prima”. This article intends to directly address this relationship, firstly, by analysing the different aspects of religion, examined by Hobbes, such as the anthropological analysis of the religious phenomenon, and the foundations of the dual “Kingdom of God,” natural, and prophetic. Secondly, these elements will be compared with the philosophical foundations of Hobbesian thought, present in particular in De Motu, Loco et Tempore (or Anti-White) and in De Corpore. This analysis intends to highlight some fundamental contrasts that make the interpretation of Hobbes’ religious thought decidedly problematic, and lead us to develop some considerations about the possible presence of Hobbes in a history of early modern atheism.

【 授权许可】

Unknown