Modern Political Thought: Readings from Machiavelli to Nietzsche

Description

The second edition of David Wootton's Modern Political Thought: Readings from Machiavelli to Nietzsche offers a new unit on modern constitutionalism with selections from Hume, Montesquieu, the Federalist, and Constant. In addition to a new essay by Wootton, this unit features his new translation of Constant's 1819 essay "On Ancient and Modern Liberty". Other changes include expanded selections from Machiavelli's Discourses on Livy and a new Hegel selection, all of which strengthen an already excellent anthology.

David Wootton is Anniversary Professor of History, University of York.

A superbly edited collection--absolutely the best of its kind.--Ian Shapiro, Yale University This book includes a wide and balanced selection of many of the more important texts of modern political thought. To its great credit, it provides pertinent excerpts from frequently neglected authors, such as Calvin and Hume, which it nicely juxtaposes with writings by more well-read authors such as Hobbes and Locke. The introductions to each section help to situate the writers in their historical and intellectual context and to alert students to some of the central issues that arise in the texts. An economical and useful approach to modern political thought.--Dan Engster, University of Chicago Modern Political Thought might well replace current texts for undergraduate modern political theory and political philosophy classes. In it, primary sources are plentiful and well represented. Wootton's introductions to particular thinkers, as well as to epochs and relations among their thinkers, are absolutely first rate: clear, concise, accessible to undergraduates yet stimulating to the professional.--Peter Schouls, Massey University