Utopias Of The British Enlightenment (cambridge Texts In The History Of Political Thought)

This is a major collection of eighteenth-century British utopias. Seven tracts, spanning the century, show how the image of the ideal society was used as a form of social criticism, and particularly as a means of focussing on ideas of progress and commercial development. Radical and republican thinking about property ownership, social equality, and commerce and luxury - of particular relevance to the critique of 'corruption' in this period - coexists with nostalgic and conservative notions of the ideal hierarchical community. The introduction, which examines the relationship of these tracts to the political thought of the period, shows how issues and developments of key importance, from the debate surrounding the French Revolution to the origins of Romanticism and early socialism, are illuminated by an understanding of the utopian tradition. This Is The First Major Collection Of Eighteenth-century British Utopias. Seven Tracts, Spanning The Century, Show How The Image Of The Ideal Society Was Used As A Form Of Social Criticism, And Particularly As A Means Of Focussing On Ideas Of Progress And Commercial Development. Radical And Republican Thinking About Property Ownership, Social Equality, And Commerce And Luxury - Of Particular Relevance To The Critique Of 'corruption' In This Period - Coexists With Nostalgic And Conservative Notions Of The Ideal Hierarchical Community. The Introduction, Which Sets These Tracts In A Wider Context Of Similar Texts, Examines Their Relationship To The Political Thought Of The Period, And Shows How Issues And Developments Of Key Importance, From The Debate Surrounding The French Revolution To The Origins Of Romanticism And Early Socialism, Are Illuminated By An Understanding Of The Utopian Tradition.--book Jacket. The Island Of Content: Or, A New Paradise Discovered (1709) / Anon -- A Description Of New Athens In Terra Australis Incognita (1720) / Anon -- Idea Of A Perfect Commonwealth (1752) / David Hume -- An Account Of The First Settlement, Laws, Form Of Governement, And Police Of The Cessares, A People Of South America (1764 / James Burgh -- Memoirs Of Planetes, Or A Sketch Of The Laws And Manners Of Makar (1795) / Thomas Northmore -- The Commonwealth Of Reason (1795) / William Hodgson -- Bruce's Voyage To Naples (1802) / Anon. Edited By Gregory Claeys. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.

This collection of eighteenth-century British utopias shows how the image of the ideal society was used as a form of social criticism, particularly as a means of focusing on ideas of progress and commercial development. The texts chosen reveal important trends in the development of liberal rights theories, of proto-socialist concepts of property distribution, and of conservative notions of the ideal hierarchical community. The introduction examines their relationship to the key issues and developments in the political thought of the period.