Abstract

This essay examines Hobbes's concept of history since his translation of Thucydides' work until the writing of "Behemoth". The analysis consists of three key moments: the importance of history for the initial acquisition of practical prudence, the devaluation of historical knowledge when Hobbes builds his deductive "scientia civilis", and finally the revaluation of history as a fundamental support to his political science. This last point shows the inadequacy of the coercive logic and the consequent necessity of the historiographical instrument.