“利维坦”全书分为四部分。第一部分开宗明义宣布了作者的彻底唯物主义自然观和一般的哲学观点，声称宇宙是由物质的微粒构成，物体是独立的客观存在，物质永恒存在，既非人所创造，也非人所能消灭，一切物质都于运动状态中。第二部分是全书的主腐朽 ，主要描述自然状态中人们不幸的生活中都享有“生而平等”的自然权利，又都有渴望和平和安定生活的共同要求，于是出于人的理性，人们相互间同意订立契约，放弃各人的自然权利，把它托付给某一个人或一个由多人组成的集体，这个人或集体能把大家的意志化为一个意志，能把大家的人格统一为一个人格；大家则服从他的意地志，服从他的判断。第三部分《论基督教国家》旨在否认自成一统的教会，抨击教皇掌有超越世俗政权的大权。第四部分《论黑暗的王国》，其主要矛头是针对罗马教会，大量揭发了罗马教会的腐败黑暗、剥削领婪的种种丑行劣迹，从而神的圣洁尊崇，教会的威严神秘，已经在霍布斯的笔下黯然失色。

导读
TO MY MOST HONOR’D FRIEND Mr FRANCIS GODOLPHIN of Godolphin
THE INTRoDUCTIoN
Part I oF MAN
CHAP．1 0fSENSE
CHAP．2 ofIMAGINATION
CHAP．3 Ofthe Consequence or TRAYNE ofImaginafions
CHAP．4 of SPEECH
CHAP．5 Of REASON，and SCIENCE
CHAP．6 Of the Interiour Beginnings of Voluntary Motions；commonly called the PASSIONS．And the Speeches by which they are expressed
CHAP．7 Of the Ends，or Resolutions of DISCOURSE
CHAP．8 Of the VERTUES commonly called INTELLECTUALL；and their contrary DEFECTS
CHAP．9 Of the Severall SUBJECTS of KNOWLEDGE
CHAP．10 Of POWER，WORTH，DIGNITY，HONOUR，and WORrHINESSE
CHAP．1l 0f the difierence of MANNERS
CHAP．12 0f RELIGION
CHAP．13 Of the NATURALL CONDITION of Mankind， as concerning their Felicity，and Misery
CHAP．14 of the first and second NATURALL LAWES， and of CONTRACTS
CHAP．15 of other Lawes of Nature
CHAP．16 Of PERSONS，AUTHORS，and things Personated
Part Ⅱ OF CoMMON—WEALTH
CHAP．17 Of the Causes，Generation，and Definition of a COMMON-WEALTH
CHAP．18 Of the RIGHTS of Soveraignes by Institution
CHAP．19 Of the severall Kinds of Common-wealth by Institution，and of Succession to the Soveraigne Power
CHAP．20 Of Dominion PATERNALL，and DESPOTICALL
CHAP．21 Of the LIBERTY of Subjects
CHAP．22 Of SYSTEMES Subject，Politicall，and Private
CHAP．23 Of the PUBLIQUE MINISTERS of Soveraign Power
CHAP．24 Of the NUTRITION，and PROCREATION of a Common-wealth
CHAP．25 of COUNSELL
CHAP．26 of CIVILL LAWES
CHAP．27 Of CRIMES，EXCUSES，and EXTENUATIONS
CHAP．28 Of PUNISHMENTS．and REWARDS
CHAP．29 Of those things that Weaken，or tend to the DISSOLUTION of a Common-wealth
CHAP．30 Of the OFFICE of the Soveraign Representative
CHAP．31 of the KINGDOME OF GOD BY NATURE
Part Ⅲ OF A CHRISTIAN COMMoN_wEALTH
CHAP．32 Of the Principles of CHRISTIAN POLITIQUES
CHAP．33 Of the Number，Antiquity，Scope，Authority， and Interpreters of the Books of Holy SCRIPTURE
CHAP．34 Of the Signification of SPIRIT，ANGEL，and INSPIRATION in the Books of Holy Scripture
CHAP．35 Of the Signification in Scripture of KINGDOME OF GOD，of HOLY，SACRED，and SACRAMENT
CHAP．36 Ofthe WORD OF GOD，and ofPROPHETS
CHAP．37 Of MIRACLES，and their Use
CHAP．38 Of the Signification in Scripture of ETERNALL LIFE，HELL，SALVATION，THE WORLD TO COME，and REDEMPTION
CHAP．39 Of the signification in Scripture of the word CHURCH
CHAP．40 Of the RIGHTS of the Kingdome of God，in Abraham，Moses，the High Priests，and the Kings ofJudah
CHAP．41 Of the OFFICE of our BLESSED SAVloUR
CHAP．42 of POWER ECCLESLASTICALL
CHAP．43 Of what is NECESSARY for a Mans Reception into the Kingdome of Heaven
Part IV OF THE KINGDOME oF DAR KNESSE
CHAP．44 Of Spirituall Darknesse from MISINTERPRETATION of Scripture
CHAP．45 Of DIEMONOLOGY，and other Reliques of the Religion of the Gentiles
CHAP．46 Of DARKNESSE from VAIN PHILOSOPHY，and FABULOUS TRADITl0NS
CHAP．47 Of the BENEFIT that proceedeth from such Darknesse，and to whom it accreweth
A REVIEW，and CONCLUSION
术语汇编与简释