This presentation investigates familiar difficulties surrounding the generation of the Commonwealth from out of the state of nature\, and proposes a novel way of understanding Hobbes's solution. Building on recent explorations of power and projection\, it argues that \;Leviathan \;proposes the concrete construction of a &ldquo\;Common Power.&rdquo\; Examination of Hobbes&rsquo\;s expanded account of natural religiosity in \;Leviathan \;suggests that projections of &ldquo\;power invisible&rdquo\; prompted by fear or hope may elicit acts of honor\, despite the pervasive conditions of natural equality. If the &ldquo\;laws of honor&rdquo\; operate in the natural condition\, this explains how and why individuals might constitute themselves as &ldquo\;instrumental powers&rdquo\; of an increasingly common entity by way of a free-gift of their will. Hobbes polemically suggests this free-gift is the &ldquo\;grace&rdquo\; or divine intervention required for salvific deliverance from the natural estate. This shows how power might be compounded to a singular site\, such that the &ldquo\;Mortal God&rdquo\; instituted in the covenant can be understood to be a rational representation of omnipotence in history. \;
\nAmy \;Chandran \;is an Assistant Professor in the Hamilton Center at the \;University of Florida. \;She completed her PhD at Harvard University in 2023.
ORGANIZER;CN=Christopher Watkin: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR