# Aristotle — Leviathan character guide

> Aristotle in Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0003-part-i-of-man

## Snapshot

The Greek philosopher Hobbes keeps invoking — sometimes as authority, sometimes as the target of a well-aimed correction.

## Who they are

Hobbes inherits Aristotle's vocabulary of causes, motion, and the first mover, then quietly rewrites it: the endless chain of causes leads to one eternal cause, but fear and ignorance are what actually breed the gods men worship. Aristotle stands behind Hobbes's account of how invisible powers get imagined — as thin aerial bodies, dream-shapes, ghosts — rather than as immaterial spirits, a notion Hobbes insists no natural mind could form. Reading Leviathan means watching Hobbes both lean on and dismantle the philosopher he can't stop quoting.

## In the story

### [I: Of Sense](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/i-of-sense)

Hobbes references Aristotle's doctrines as the basis for the 'visible species' theory taught in universities.

### [Of Speech](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/iv-of-speech)

Mentioned as an authority whose name is valued by fools, contrasting with true reasoning based on definitions.

### [XV: Of Other Laws of Nature](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xv-of-other-laws-of-nature)

Hobbes criticizes Aristotle's doctrine in the Politics that some men are naturally fit to command and others to serve, arguing that this is contrary to reason and experience.

### [Of the Causes, Generation, and Definition of a Commonwealth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xvii-of-the-causes-generation-and-definition-of-a-commonwealth)

Referenced as numbering bees and ants among political creatures.

### [Part IV: Of the Kingdom of Darkness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/part-iv-of-the-kingdom-of-darkness)

Criticized for introducing false philosophy that obscures truth.

### [Of Spiritual Darkness, from Misinterpretation of Scripture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xliv-of-spiritual-darkness-from-misinterpretation-of-scripture)

Mentioned as a source of vain and erroneous philosophy mixed with Scripture.

### [XLVI: Of Darkness from Vain Philosophy and Fabulous Traditions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/chapters/xlvi-of-darkness-from-vain-philosophy-and-fabulous-traditions)

Hobbes blames Aristotle's doctrine of 'separated essences' for introducing vain philosophy that supports superstition and undermines civil obedience.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters/aristotle
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leviathan_se/characters