Rethinking The Foundations of Modern Political Thought

A fresh look at the impact of Quentin Skinner's The Foundations of Modern Political Thought.

Annabel Brett (Edited by), James Tully (Edited by), Holly Hamilton-Bleakley (With)

9780521849791, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 7 December 2006

310 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.9 cm, 0.59 kg

'The compilation presents a group of distinguished contributors paying their homage to Skinner … [the book] justifies the widening of the scope of political theory.' Redescriptions: Yearbook on Political Thought, Conceptual History and Feminist Theory

Quentin Skinner's classic study The Foundations of Modern Political Thought was first published by Cambridge in 1978. This was the first of a series of outstanding publications that have changed forever the way the history of political thought is taught and practised. Rethinking the Foundations of Modern Political Thought looks afresh at the impact of the original work, asks why it still matters, and considers a number of significant agendas that it still inspires. A very distinguished international team of contributors has been assembled, including John Pocock, Richard Tuck and David Armitage, and the result is an unusually powerful and cohesive contribution to the history of ideas, of interest to large numbers of students of early modern history and political thought. In conclusion, Skinner replies to each chapter and presents his own thoughts on the latest trends and the future direction of the history of political thought.

Preface James Tully and Annabel Brett
Part I. Introduction: 1. The context of the Foundations Mark Goldie
2. Linguistic philosophy and the Foundations Holly Hamilton-Bleakley
Part II. Rethinking the Foundations: 3. Foundations and moments J. G. A. Pocock
4. Skinner, pre-Humanistic rhetorical culture and Machiavelli Marco Geuna
5. Unoriginal authors: how to do things with texts in the Renaissance Warren Boutcher
6. 'The best state of the Commonwealth': Thomas More and Quentin Skinner Cathy Curtis
7. Scholasticism in Quentin Skinner's Foundations H. M. Höpfl
8. Scholastic political thought and the modern concept of the state Annabel Brett
9. 'So meerly humane': theories of resistance in early modern Europe Martin van Gelderen
10. Hobbes and democracy Richard Tuck
11. A lion in the house: Hobbes and democracy Kinch Hoekstra
12. Hobbes and the foundations of modern international thought David Armitage
13. Surveying the Foundations: a retrospect and reassessment Quentin Skinner
Bibliography.

Subject Areas: Political science & theory [JPA], History of ideas [JFCX], Historiography [HBAH]