Philosophy and Government 1572–1651 (Ideas in Context, Series Number 26)

This Contribution To Our Understanding Of European Political Theory Will Challenge The Perspectives In Which Political Thought Is Understood. Framed As A General Account Of The Period Between 1572 And 1651 It Charts The Formation Of A Distinctively Modern Political Vocabulary, Based On Arguments Of Political Necessity And Raison D'etat In The Work Of The Major Theorists. While Dr. Tuck Pays Detailed Attention To Montaigne, Grotius, Hobbes And The Theorists Of The English Revolution, He Also Reconsiders The Origins Of Their Conceptual Vocabulary In Humanist Thought--particularly Skepticism And Stoicism--and Its Development And Appropriation During The Revolutions In Holland And France. This Book Will Be Welcomed By All Historians Of Political Thought And Those Interested In The Development Of The Idea Of The State. The Renaissance Background -- Scepticism, Stoicism And Raison D'etat -- The Spread Of The New Humanism -- The Alternatives -- Hugo Grotius -- The English Revolution -- Thomas Hobbes. Richard Tuck. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 349-370) And Index. This major new contribution to our understanding of European political theory will challenge the perspectives in which political thought is understood. Framed as a general account of the period between 1572 and 1651 it charts the formation of a distinctively modern political vocabulary, based on arguments of political necessity and raison d'etat in the work of the major theorists. While Dr. Tuck pays detailed attention to Montaigne, Grotius, Hobbes and the theorists of the English Revolution, he also reconsiders the origins of their conceptual vocabulary in humanist thought--particularly skepticism and stoicism--and its development and appropriation during the revolutions in Holland and France. This book will be welcomed by all historians of political thought and those interested in the development of the idea of the state. Frontmatter Preface (page xi) I The Renaissance background (page 1) 2 Scepticism, Stoicism and raison d'état (page 31) 3 The spread of the new humanism (page 65) 4 The alternatives (page 120) 5 Hugo Grotius (page 154) 6 The English Revolution (page 202) 7 Thomas Hobbes (page 279) Conclusion (page 346) Bibliography (page 349) Index (page 371)