• Introduction; Part I Part; Chapter 1 Hobbes, Lucianic Humour and the Philosophic Persona; Chapter 2 Hoisting Hobbes on the Satiric Petard; Part II Part; Chapter 3 The Seriousness of the Absurd: The Scriblerian Philosophic Persona; Chapter 4 Identity, Materiality and the Language of Philosophical Absurdity; Chapter 5 Hobbes and the Scriblerians; Chapter 6 Afterword: The History of Early Modern Philosophy: Method, Speech Act and Persona;

'Mr Condren's study will interest philosophers, historians and literary scholars with its impressive sweep, detail and theoretical sophistication.' The Scriblerian 'This book represents an intriguing attempt to reconceptualise the history of philosophy by linking it with the history of satire, particularly by seeking to do justice to the legacy of Lucian. In doing this, it presents a telling challenge to disciplinary boundaries.' Michael Hunter, Birkbeck, University of London 'offers useful insights into the context surrounding the reception of Hobbes's philosophy.' Journal of the History of Philosophy 'Condren has important things to say about avoiding anachronism in trying to comprehend how philosophy was perceived in the past.' Parergon