Classics of modern political theory

1040 Pages·1997·23.368 MB·English

by  Steven M. Cahn

C
lassics
M
of odern
P
olitical
T
heory

C
lassics
M
of odern
P
olitical
T
heory
Machiavelli to M ill
Edited by
STEVEN M. CAHN
New York Oxford
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
1997
Oxford New York
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Copyright © 1997 by Oxford University Press, Inc.
Published by Oxford University Press, Inc.
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Oxford is a registered trademark of Oxford University Press
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means,
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without the prior permission of Oxford University Press.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Classics of modern political theory / edited by Steven M. Cahn.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN 0-19-510173-1
1. Political science—History. 2. Political science—History—
Sources. I. Cahn, Steven M.
JA83.C535 1996
320—dc20 95-26515
CIP
Printing (last digit): 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed in the United States of America
on acid-free paper.
To my teachers at Columbia College

CONTENTS
PREFACE
1Л
NICCOL6 MACHIAVELLI j
The Prince 4
Discourses (selections) 51
THOMAS HOBBES 78
Leviathan (selections) gO
BARUCH SPINOZA 197
Theologico-Political Treatise (Chaps. XVI, XX) 200
JOHN LOCKE 213
Second Treatise of Government 217
Letter Concerning Toleration 292
MONTESQUIEU 320
The Spirit of the Laws (selections) 323
JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU 366
Discourse on the Origin of Inequality 370
Of the Social Contract 420
DAVID HUME 486
An Enquiry Concerning the Principleso f Morals (Sec. Ill) 490
“Of Parties in General”
“Of the Original Contract”
"Of the Origin of Government”
ADAM SMITH 518
The Theory of Moral Sentiments (Pt. IV)
The Wealth of Nations (selections) ^ ^ *
viii CONTENTS
IMMANUEL KANT 553
On the Old Saw: That May Be Right in Theory But It Won’t Work
in Practice (Pts. II, III) 557
Perpetual Peace 571
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 601
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 604
THE FEDERALIST PAPERS (selections) 620
THE DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN AND OF THE CITIZEN 663
EDMUND BURKE 665
Reflections on the Revolution in France (selections) 667
JEREMY BENTHAM 682
Principles of Legislation (selections) 685
ALEXIS DE TOCQUEVILLE 709
Democracy in America (Vol. I: Chaps. 6, 7) 713
GEORG WILHELM FRIEDRICH HEGEL 733
Philosophy of Right (Introduction; Third Part) 736
KARL MARX AND FRIEDRICH ENGELS 836
Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844 (selections) 841
The German Ideology (selections) 857
Manifesto of the Communist Party 867
A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy (Preface) 890
Value, Price and Profit (Chaps. VI-XI) 893
Socialism: Utopian and Scientific 904
JOHN STUART MILL 928
On Liberty 930
Considerations on Representative Government (Chap. 3) 996
The Subjection of Women {Chap. 1) 1006
PREFACE
This volume contains the complete texts of many of the masterpieces of modern political
theory, along with substantial selections from numerous others. An original introduction to
each authors writings, contributed by an authority on that subject, includes biographical data,
philosophical commentary, and bibliographical guides.
The idea for this collection developed from a conversation with Robert B. Miller, senior
editor at Oxford University Press, and I appreciate his continuing encouragement and advice.
Karen Shapiro was the able Project Editor, and Ian Gardiner proofread the manuscript with
his customary conscientiousness. I am grateful especially to those scholars who provided intro­
ductions: Professors Bernard E. Brown (City University of New York/Graduate School),
Joshua Cohen (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Charles L. Griswold, Jr. (Boston
University), the late Jean Hampton (University of Arizona), Michael O. Hardimon (University
of California/San Diego), Mark Hulliung (Brandeis University), Arthur Kuflik (University of
Vermont), Roger D. Masters (Dartmouth College), Richard Miller (Cornell University),
Thomas W. Pogge (Columbia University), Gordon Schochet (Rutgers University), Steven B.
Smith (Yale University), Jeremy Waldron (University of California/Berkeley), and Burleigh T.
Wilkins (University of California, Santa Barbara).
I benefited from advice offered by Professor Masters regarding Machiavelli’s Discourses,
Professor Hampton regarding Hobbes’s Leviathan, Professor Griswold regarding Smith’s The
Wealth of Nations, Professor Brown regarding The Federalist, and Professor Kuflik regarding a
variety of strategic and substantive matters. I also received wise counsel from several reviewers
selected by Oxford University Press, namely: Larry Arnhart, professor of political science,
Northern Illinois University; Donald Becker, assistant professor of philosophy, University of
Texas at Austin; Daniel Breazeale, professor of philosophy, University of Kentucky; John
Champlin, associate professor of political science, Ohio State University; Jim Curtis; Karen
Hanson, professor of philosopy, Indiana University; Diane Jeske, assistant professor of philoso­
phy, The University of Iowa; David Keyt, professor of philosophy, University of Washington;
and Alan Mabe, professor of philosophy, Florida State University.