The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 07 (of 11)

In this collected volume, Thomas Hobbes turns his sharp analytical mind to the mysteries of the natural world. He presents seven concise essays that explore gravity, tides, vacuum, heat, the nature of hard and soft bodies, wind and weather, and the geometry of motion, each framed as a philosophical problem rather than a finished theory. Alongside the essays, Hobbes includes two geometric propositions—one tackling the classic duplication of the cube and another critiquing the misuse of arithmetic in geometry.

The work opens with a courteous dedication to the king, where Hobbes explains his intent to offer a modest contribution to natural reason, free of the obscure jargon that often clouds scientific debate. He argues that even without absolute proof, demonstrating possible causes can be as valuable as knowing the exact mechanisms, a stance that reflects his pragmatic view of knowledge. Readers will also find a brief apology for his earlier controversial writings and a glimpse into the intellectual climate of the mid‑seventeenth century, making the volume a vivid window onto early modern scientific thought.