ORIGINS OF MODERNITY

political philosophy

Hobbes, Thomas (1588-1679)
Philosophical rudiments concerning government and society.
London : Printed by J.G. for R.Royston, 1651.

The Philosophical Rudiments, 1650/51 is the English translation, with minor corrections of De cive (1642, 1646) a work which did much to establish Hobbes's reputation as a major European philosophical figure. At one time it was thought that the translation was by Hobbes but Noel Malcolm has recently established the translator to be Charles Cotton the younger. On publication The Philosophical Rudiments was assimilated to the Engagement controversy (1649-52) and during the Restoration was condemned at the University of Oxford and formally burnt by the public hangman.