A History of Modern Political Thought

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.

Acknowledgements vii

Introduction ix

I Thomas Hobbes 1

II John Locke 69

III David Hume 117

IV Jean-Jacques Rousseau 153

V 'Publius': The Federalist 197

VI Edmund Burke 261

VII Jeremy Bentham 305

VIII John Stuart Mill 339

IX G. W. F. Hegel 409

X Karl Marx 483

Bibliography 563

Index 593

Iain Hampsher-Monk is Professor of Political Theory at the University of Exeter and Editor of the international Journal History of Political Thought. 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 readers to situate the writings of key thinkers in relation to wider currents in intellectual and political history.