The Political Theory of the American Founding
Natural Rights, Public Policy, and the Moral Conditions of Freedom

This book provides a complete overview of the Founders' natural rights theory and its policy implications.

Thomas G. West (Author)

9781316506035, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 3 April 2017

428 pages
22.8 x 15.2 x 2.4 cm, 0.59 kg

'By reintroducing the moral underpinnings of the founders' natural rights republic, Thomas G. West has made an extraordinary contribution to our understanding of American political thought. He shows that the founders' republicanism is a part of their liberalism; that duties and rights, properly understood, are not at odds. In doing so, The Political Theory of the American Founding not only helps us better understand America's principles, it explains why we ought to cherish them and fight to restore them to their rightful place in our political life.' Vincent Phillip Muñoz, University of Notre Dame

This book provides a complete overview of the American Founders' political theory, covering natural rights, natural law, state of nature, social compact, consent, and the policy implications of these ideas. The book is intended as a response to the current scholarly consensus, which holds that the Founders' political thought is best understood as an amalgam of liberalism, republicanism, and perhaps other traditions. West argues that, on the contrary, the foundational documents overwhelmingly point to natural rights as the lens through which all politics is understood. The book explores in depth how the Founders' supposedly republican policies on citizen character formation do not contradict but instead complement their liberal policies on property and economics. Additionally, the book shows how the Founders' embraced other traditions in their politics, such as common law and Protestantism.

Introduction
Part I. The Political Theory of the Founding: An Overview: 1. Equality, natural rights, and the laws of nature
2. The case against the natural rights founding
3. Equality and natural rights misunderstood
4. The founder's arguments for equality, natural rights, and natural law
5. The state of nature
6. The social compact and consent of the governed
7. Natural rights and public policy
Part II. The Moral Conditions of Freedom: 8. Why government should support morality
9. How government supports morality
10. Sex and marriage in political theory and policy
11. Cultivating public support for liberty and virtue
12. What virtues should government promote?
13. The founder's virtues: questions and clarifications
Part III. Property and Economics: 14. The founder's understanding of property rights
15. Private ownership
16. Free markets
17. Sound money
18. The Hamilton–Jefferson quarrel
Conclusion. Justice, nobility, and the politics of natural rights
Index.

Subject Areas: Political ideologies [JPF], Political science & theory [JPA], History of the Americas [HBJK]