The Language Of Politics In Seventeenth-century England (studies In Modern History)

This is a study of the words of political discourse in seventeenth-century England from which we now reconstruct its theories. Taking its starting point in modern theories of language,intellectual history is first reconceptualised. Part 1 presents an overview of the political domain in the seventeenth century arguing that what we see as the political was fugitive and subject to reductionist pressures from better established fields of discourse. Further, there were strong pressures leading towards an indiscriminate and relatively general vocabulary, in turn facilitating the imposition of our anachronistic images of political theory. Part 2 focuses on a sub-set of the political vocabulary, charting the changing relationships between the words subject, citizen, resistance, rebellion, the coinage of rhetorical exchange. The final chapter returns most explicitly to the themes of the introduction, by exploring how the historians own vocabulary can be systematically misleading when taken into the context of seventeenth-century word use. This Is A Study Of The Words Of Political Discourse In Seventeenth-century England From Which We Now Reconstruct Its Theories. Taking Its Starting-point In Modern Theories Of Language, Intellectual History Is First Reconceptualised. Part 1 Presents An Overview Of The Political Domain In The Seventeenth Century, Arguing That What We See As The Political Was Fugitive And Subject To Reductionist Pressures From Better-established Fields Of Discourse. Further There Were Strong Pressures Leading Towards An Indiscriminate And Relatively General Vocabulary, In Turn Facilitating The Imposition Of Our Anachronistic Images Of Political Theory. Part 2 Focuses On A Sub-set Of The Political Vocabulary, Charting The Changing Relationships Between The Words Subject, Citizen, Resistance And Rebellion, The Coinage Of Rhetorical Exchange. The Final Chapter Returns Most Explicitly To The Themes Of The Introduction, By Exploring How The Historian's Own Vocabulary Can Be Systematically Misleading When Taken Into The Context Of Seventeenth-century Word Use.--book Jacket. Pt. I. Overview Of The Political Domain -- 1. Stability And Structure -- 2. Conflation And Distinction -- Pt. Ii. The Vocabulary Of Status And Action -- 3. Subject And Citizen -- 4. Resistance And Rebellion -- 5. Will All The Radicals Please Lie Down, We Can't See The Seventeenth Century. Conal Condren. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This is a study of the words of political discourse in seventeenth-century England from which we now reconstruct its theories. Taking its starting point in modern theories of language, intellectual history is first reconceptualised. Part 1 presents an overview of the political domain in the seventeenth century arguing that what we see as the political was fugitive and subject to reductionist pressures from better established fields of discourse. Further, there were strong pressures leading towards an indiscriminate and relatively general vocabulary, in turn facilitating the imposition of our anachronistic images of political theory. Part 2 focuses on a sub-set of the political vocabulary, charting the changing relationships between the words subject, citizen, resistance, rebellion, the coinage of rhetorical exchange. The final chapter returns most explicitly to the themes of the introduction, by exploring how the historians own vocabulary can be systematically misleading when taken into the context of seventeenth-century word use Examines the words of political discourse used in turbulent 17th-century England and how they are used by modern historians to reconstruct the contemporary political theories. Argues that what we see as political was under great pressure from better established fields of discourse, which sought to impose an indiscriminate and general vocabulary, and that it is that vocabulary historians now use to construct political theory. Also details the changing relationships and weights of such rhetorical words as subject, citizen, resistance , and rebellion . Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or. Front Matter....Pages i-xi Introduction....Pages 1-24 Front Matter....Pages 25-25 Stability and Structure....Pages 27-56 Conflation and Distinction....Pages 57-88 Front Matter....Pages 89-89 Subject and Citizen....Pages 91-114 Resistance and Rebellion....Pages 115-139 Will All the Radicals Please Lie Down, We Can’t See the Seventeenth Century....Pages 140-168 Back Matter....Pages 169-215