ABSTRACT

Focusing on the historical context in which political theorists have developed their thinking, this textbook provides an invaluable introduction to students of political thought. The authors address a series of canonical major thinkers in the context of three world-changing epochs: the English, French and Industrial revolutions. The theorists' ideas are assessed with reference to the politics of their time and show how they responded to, or interacted with, the political events and issues of their day.

chapter |6 pages

Introduction

Politics

chapter |9 pages

Milton’s grand themes

chapter |14 pages

The Levellers as democrats

chapter |5 pages

Nationalism

chapter |16 pages

Bibliography

part |1 pages

Liberalism and democracy

chapter |10 pages

Summary

part |1 pages

Locke’s political theory

chapter |9 pages

Private property

chapter |4 pages

The limited state

part |1 pages

Bibliography

chapter |12 pages

Montesquieu’s political theory

chapter |13 pages

Montesquieu: liberal or conservative?

part |2 pages

The harm principle

chapter |14 pages

Evaluating the harm principle

chapter |14 pages

German Idealism

chapter |15 pages

Analysis and critique

chapter |7 pages

Summary

chapter |2 pages

Further reading