Polish Republican Discourse in the Sixteenth Century (Ideas in Context, Series Number 129)

Exploring republican ideas and concepts that developed in sixteenth-century Poland under the impact of humanism and the Renaissance, as well as political and constitutional changes, this is a landmark study of republican discourse in sixteenth-century Poland-Lithuania. It provides a conceptual and contextual analysis of the rich political literature and debate which animated intellectual life and political reasoning during the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and effectively demonstrates its republican character. Using a comparative perspective, Dorota Pietrzyk-Reeves situates the Polish republican discourse within both the classical and early modern republican traditions, bringing together contexts and ideas that have traditionally been overlooked by scholars of early modern Europe. In addition, she also underlines the originality of Polish concepts such as the relationship between law, liberty and virtue as key elements of a well-ordered commonwealth and the vision of a mixed res publica that had a monarchical character. This book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in European intellectual history and the early modern republican tradition. "Exploring republican ideas and concepts that developed in sixteenth-century Poland under the impact of humanism and the Renaissance, as well as political and constitutional changes, this is a landmark study of republican discourse in sixteenth-century Poland- Lithuania. It provides a conceptual and contextual analysis of the rich political literature and debate which animated intellectual life and political reasoning during the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and effectively demonstrates its republican character"-- Provided by publisher Cover Half-title page Series page Title page Copyright page Contents Acknowledgements Note on the Translation Introduction: Classical Republican Tradition and the Polish Republican Discourse Chapter 1 Polish Sixteenth-Century Political Thought in Context Chapter 2 The Commonwealth (res publica): A Free Political Community Chapter 3 Virtue and the Common Good Chapter 4 Mixed Constitution and the Institutional Foundations of the Commonwealth Epilogue Glossary of Polish Terms Bibliography Index This landmark study provides conceptual and contextual analysis of political literature and debate in sixteenth-century Poland-Lithuania and its contribution to early modern republicanism. It demonstrates the republican character of Polish discourse and the originality of Polish concepts such as the relationship between law, liberty and virtue.