Abstract

GAUTHIER'S IMPRESSIVE ACCOUNT RESTS ON A SUSTAINED ATTEMPT\nTO RECONSTRUCT HOBBES' THOUGHT FROM MAN AS A\nSELF-MAINTAINING ENGINE TO AN AUTHOR WHO BINDS HIMSELF TO\nAN AGENT (SOVEREIGN), SANCTIONED BY A NONTERMINABLE\nCOVENANT. TO THIS END HE EMPLOYS THE DEVICE OF\nDISTINGUISHING BETWEEN FORMAL AND MATERIAL DEFINITIONS IN\nHOBBES' MORAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY. THE VALIDITY OF\nTHIS PROCEDURE IS CALLED INTO QUESTION BY INSISTING THAT\nHOBBES' CONCLUSION CANNOT BE DISSOCIATED FROM HIS\nINSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNT OF THE ARTS OF PEACE