The American Founding and the Social Compact
Published on 25. August 2003
Book
Hardback
296 pages
978-0-7391-0664-8 (ISBN)
Description
Unlike many other books about the American founding, this new work by two of the most prominent scholars of American political history emphasizes the coherence and intelligibility of the social compact theory. Social compact theory, the idea that government must be based on an agreement between those who govern and those who consent to be governed, was one of the Founders' few unifying philosophical positions, and it transcended the partisan politics of that era. Contributors to this volume present a comprehensive overview of the social compact theory, discussing its European philosophical origins, the development of the theory into the basis of the fledgling government, and the attitudes of some of the founders toward the theory and its traditional proponents. The authors argue forcefully and convincingly that the political ideas of the American Founders cannot be properly understood without understanding social compact theory and the exalted place it held in the construction of the American system of government.
Reviews / Votes
This study is thoroughly reseached, it engages critically with the existing literature, and it is convincingly argued. * Political Studies Review * This book magnificently succeeds in restoring the politics of natural right as an intelligible and persuasive alternative to the politics of historicism. * Claremont Review of Books * Recommended. * CHOICE * This volume makes a massive contribution to our understanding of the founding by emphasizing the social compact political theory behind the founding. This allows the various and thoughtful authors to be guided by those special qualities that inhere in the social compact theory-the ideas of nature, equality, liberty, and consent-and to interpret its meaning; this is the often forgotten, yet necessary, condition that helps explain how our constitutional democracy can work so well. I heartily recommend this volume to all students of the founding. -- Peter W. Schramm, Executive Director of the John M. Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs and a Professor of Political Science at Ashland UniversityMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
With dust jacket
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
582 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7391-0664-8 (9780739106648)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Ronald J. Pestritto | Thomas G. West
The American Founding and the Social Compact
E-Book
08/2003
1st Edition
Lexington Books
€47.99
Available for download
Persons
Ronald J. Pestritto is Charles and Lucia Shipley Chair in the American Constitution at Hillsdale College and author of Founding the Criminal Law: Punishment and Political Thought in the Origins of America (2000). Thomas G. West is professor of politics at the University of Dallas and director and senior fellow of the Claremont Institute. His book Vindicating the Founders: Race, Sex, Class and Justice in the Origins of America (1997) won the 2000 Paolucci Book Award.
Content
Chapter 1 Preface Chapter 2 Locke on the Social Compact: An Overview Chapter 3 Contribution of William Blackstone Chapter 4 Hume, Historical Inheritance, and the Problem of Founding Chapter 5 The Political Theory of the Declaration of Independence Chapter 6 Thomas Jefferson and the Social Compact Chapter 7 From Subjects to Citizens: The Social Compact Origins of American Citizenship Chapter 8 Alexander Hamilton and the Grand Strategy of the American Social Compact Chapter 9 John Adams's "Hobbism" Chapter 10 Benjamin Franklin and the Theory of Social Compact