The Political Theory of the American Founding
豆瓣
Natural Rights, Public Policy, and the Moral Conditions of Freedom
Thomas G. West
简介
This book provides a complete overview of the American Founders' political theory, covering natural rights, natural law, state of nature, social compact, consent, and the policy implications of these ideas. The book is intended as a response to the current scholarly consensus, which holds that the Founders' political thought is best understood as an amalgam of liberalism, republicanism, and perhaps other traditions. West argues that, on the contrary, the foundational documents overwhelmingly point to natural rights as the lens through which all politics is understood. The book explores in depth how the Founders' supposedly republican policies on citizen character formation do not contradict but instead complement their liberal policies on property and economics. Additionally, the book shows how the Founders' embraced other traditions in their politics, such as common law and Protestantism.
目录
Introduction pp 1-16
Part I - The Political Theory of the Founding pp 17-162
1 - Equality, Natural Rights, and the Laws of Nature pp 19-42
2 - The Case Against the Natural Rights Founding pp 43-58
3 - Equality and Natural Rights Misunderstood pp 59-76
4 - The Founders’ Arguments for Equality, Natural Rights, and Natural Law pp 77-95
5 - The State of Nature pp 96-111
6 - The Social Compact and Consent of the Governed pp 112-134
7 - Natural Rights and Public Policy pp 135-162
Part II - The Moral Conditions of Freedom pp 163-306
8 - Why Government Should Support Morality pp 165-185
9 - How Government Supports Morality pp 186-218
10 - Sex and Marriage in Political Theory and Policy pp 219-243
11 - Cultivating Public Support for Liberty and Virtue pp 244-269
12 - What Virtues Should Government Promote? pp 270-291
13 - The Founders’ Virtues pp 292-306
Part III - Property and Economics pp 307-392
14 - The Founders’ Understanding of Property Rights pp 309-324
15 - Private Ownership pp 325-345
16 - Free Markets pp 346-361
17 - Sound Money pp 362-372
18 - The Hamilton–Jefferson Quarrel pp 373-392
Conclusion pp 393-410
Index pp 411-420