This edited collection features key writings from British political thinkers responding to the French Revolution, a pivotal event that shaped modern political discourse. It includes excerpts from influential figures like Burke, Wollstonecraft, and Paine, exploring themes of class politics, secular ideology, and revolutionary change.
Iain Hampsher-Monk’s lucid and accessible history of modern political thought is the introduction which many have been waiting for, providing a thorough guide to the ideas and writings of major political thinkers from Hobbes to Marx (including a full account of The Federalist papers).The author’s aim throughout is to incorporate the benefits of modern scholarship of the historical school, with its emphasis on historical and political circumstances as a key to meaning. Recognizing that for most students time will not allow detailed study of the historical and political contexts of particular works, Hampsher-Monk provides here the background necessary for the reader to situate the writings of key thinkers in relation to wider currents in intellectual and political history.A History of Modern Political Thought will meet the needs of both general readers and students of political theory and philosophy. It is an indispensable secondary source which aims to situate, explain, and provoke thought about the major works of political theory likely to be encountered by students of modern political thought.
Exploring the interplay between history and philosophy, this collection showcases Iain Hampsher-Monk's insights on key political concepts like liberty, democracy, and toleration. It emphasizes the importance of reason in political science while addressing the limitations of economic rationality in social theorizing. The writings advocate for a view of human action as conscious and meaning-bearing, promoting a human science that reflects these self-understandings. The volume also includes a substantial introduction, framing the historical revolution in political theory.