Social & Political Philosophy

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  1. A Companion To Plato's Republic

    Nicholas White

    A step by step, passage by passage analysis of the complete Republic. White shows how the argument of the book is articulated, the important interconnections among its elements, and the coherent and carefully developed train of though which motivates its complex philosophical reasoning. In his extensive introduction, White describes Plato’s aims, introduces the argument, and discusses the major philosophical and ethical theories embodied in the Republic. He then summarizes each of its ten books and provides substantial explanatory and interpretive notes.

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  2. A Debate on Jewish Emancipation and Christian Theology in Old Berlin

    David Friedländer, Friedrich Schleiermacher, Wilhelm Abraham Teller
    Edited and Translated by Richard Crouter and Julie Klassen

    "One of the most fascinating and, indeed, seminal debates in the protracted struggle of German Jewry to gain full citizenship and civic equality. As the translators make clear in their learned and generally lucid Introduction, this debate illuminates the enduring difficulty of modern nation states to establish a civic society that is, if not religiously neutral, at least inclusive. . . . It will surely enter the canon of standard works in the study of modern Jewish history."
         —Paul Mendes-Flohr, Hebrew University

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  3. A Letter Concerning Toleration

    John Locke
    Edited by James H. Tully

    John Locke's subtle and influential defense of religious toleration as argued in his seminal Letter Concerning Toleration (1685) appears in this edition as introduced by one of our most distinguished political theorists and historians of political thought.

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  4. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

    Mary Wollstonecraft
    Edited, with an Introduction and Notes, by Philip Barnard and Stephen Shapiro

    "A thoughtful and useful abridgement of an essential historical, political, and philosophical text. [Barnard and Shapiro] have managed to preserve the tone and arguments of the original while shedding much of the redundancy and lengthy quotations of external sources that can be off-putting and cumbersome for today's readers. The explanatory footnotes added to the text are helpful without being overbearing."
         —Katrin Schultheiss, George Washington University

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  5. Abortion: A Dialogue

    Selmer Bringsjord

    Vigorously demonstrating the relevance of reasoning to important moral problems, the participants in this dialogue resist the temptations of strident emotional appeal in an effort to present the most honorable and intellectually sophisticated sides of their arguments. This effort leads them to consideration of ante-bellum slavery, to a comparison of the notions of absolute truth in ethics versus mathematics, and to constructive discussions of genetics, artificial intelligence, euthanasia, personal identity, human sexuality, and Roe v. Wade.

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  6. An Introduction to Plato's Laws

    R. F. Stalley

    Reading the Republic without reference to the less familiar Laws can lead to a distorted view of Plato's political theory.  In the Republic the philosopher describes his ideal city; in his last and longest work he deals with the more detailed considerations involved in setting up a second-best 'practical utopia.'  The relative neglect of the Laws has stemmed largely from the obscurity of its style and the apparent chaos of its organization so that, although good translations now exist, students of philosophy and political science still find the text inaccessible. This first full-length philosophical introduction to the Laws will therefore prove invaluable.

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  7. Beyond Freedom and Dignity

    B. F. Skinner

    In this profound and profoundly controversial work, a landmark of 20th-century thought originally published in 1971, B. F. Skinner makes his definitive statement about humankind and society. Beyond Freedom and Dignity urges us to reexamine the ideals we have taken for granted and to consider the possibility of a radically behaviorist approach to human problems—one that has appeared to some incompatible with those ideals, but which envisions the building of a world in which humankind can attain its greatest possible achievements.

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  8. Candide

    Voltaire
    Translated, with Introduction, and Notes, by David Wootton

    "Along with a brisk and very readable rendition of the text, this edition provides the material necessary for understanding the point of Voltaire’s satire. Wootton’s Introduction gives an excellent account of the dispute over optimism, and the supplementary texts show both the opposing points of view in this dispute, and its development on other texts of Voltaire." —Christopher J. Kelly, co-editor, The Collected Writings of Rousseau

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  9. Classics of Moral and Political Theory (Fifth Edition)

    Edited, with Introductions, by Michael L. Morgan

    The fifth edition of Michael L. Morgan’s Classics of Moral and Political Theory broadens the scope and increases the versatility of this landmark anthology by offering new selections from Aristotle’s Politics, Aquinas’ Disputed Questions on Virtue and Treatise on Law, as well as the entirety of Locke’s Letter Concerning Toleration, Kant’s To Perpetual Peace, and Nietzsche’s On the Advantage and Disadvantage of History for Life.

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  10. Commentary on Aristotle's Politics

    Thomas Aquinas
    Translated, with a Preface, by Richard J. Regan

    Offering the first complete translation into modern English of Aquinas’ unfinished commentary on Aristotle’s Politics, this translation follows the definitive Leonine text of Aquinas and reproduces in English those passages of William of Moerbeke’s exacting yet elliptical translation of the Politics from which Aquinas worked.  Bekker numbers have been added to passages from the Politics for easy reference. Students of the history of political thought will welcome this study of a great classic, a commentary by a student of Aristotle who is also a great political theorist in his own right.

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  11. Considerations on the Causes of the Greatness of the Romans and their Decline

    Montesquieu
    Translated by David Lowenthal

    “It is wonderful to have David Lowenthal’s splendid translation of Montesquieu’s Considerations on the Causes of the Greatness of the Romans and their Decline back in print. This neglected masterpiece deserves attention from all who are concerned with self-government—whether their focus is on history or on its prospects in our own time.”
         —Paul A. Rahe, University of Tulsa

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  12. Dewey: Political Writings

    John Dewey
    Edited by D. Morris and Ian Shapiro

    Includes notes on sources and editions and an editor's introduction.

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  13. Discourse on the Origin of Inequality

    Jean-Jacques Rousseau
    Translated by Donald A. Cress
    Introduction by James Miller

    Donald Cress’s highly regarded translation, based on the critical Pléiade edition of 1964, is here issued with a lively introduction by James Miller, who brings into sharp focus the cultural and intellectual milieu in which Rousseau operated. This new edition includes a select bibliography, a note on the text, a translator’s note, and Rousseau’s own Notes on the Discourse.

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  14. Discourse on Voluntary Servitude

    Étienne de La Boétie
    Translated by James B. Atkinson & David Sices
    Introduction and Notes by James B. Atkinson

    "An excellent translation: clear, crisp and accurate. The introduction is also a helpful contextualization of the text, Boétie's relation to Montaigne, and a brief discussion of the history of this important text on non-cooperation in the 20th-Century. I highly recommend it for courses in the history of political theory and of non-cooperation as a means of regime change."
         —James Tully, Department of Political Science, University of Victoria

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  15. Equality

    Edited, with Introduction, by David Johnston

    Organized around such themes as equality before the law, equality of opportunity, and equality of result, the selections included in this anthology range from Plato to the present, treating a topic of fundamental importance to political theory. North American rights only.

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  16. Four Island Utopias

    Diskin Clay and Andrea Purvis

    Includes Plato's Atlantis, Euhemeros of Messene's Sacred Inscription, Iamboulos's Island of the Sun, and Bacon's New Atlantis, with a supplement of Utopian PrototypesDevelopments and Variations

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  17. Gandhi: Selected Political Writings

    Mahatma Gandhi
    Edited, with Introduction, by Dennis Dalton

    Based on the complete edition of his works, this new volume presents Gandhi’s most important political writings arranged around the two central themes of his political teachings: satyagraha (the power of non-violence) and swaraj (freedom). Dennis Dalton’s general Introduction and headnotes highlight the life of Gandhi, set the readings in historical context, and provide insight into the conceptual framework of Gandhi’s political theory. Included are bibliography, glossary, and index.

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  18. Hume: Political Writings

    David Hume
    Edited by Stuart Warner and Donald Livingston

    The first thematically arranged collection of Hume's political writings, this new work brings together substantive selections from A Treatise on Human Nature, An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals, and Essays: Moral, Political and Literary, with an interpretive introduction placing Hume in the context of contemporary debates between liberalism and its critics and between contextual and universal approaches.

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  19. Introduction to the Philosophy of History

    G. W. F. Hegel
    Translated by Leo Rauch

    "An elegant and intelligent translation. The text provides a perfect solution to the problem of how to introduce students to Hegel in a survey course in the history of Western philosophy.  
         —Graham Parkes, University of Hawaii

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  20. Justice

    Edited, with Introduction, by Jonathan Westphal

    The readings in Justice include the central philosophical statements about justice in society organized to illustrate both the political vision of a good society and different attempts at an analysis of the concept of justice.

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  21. Leviathan

    Thomas Hobbes
    Edited, with Introduction, by Edwin Curley

    Designed to meet the needs of both student and scholar, this edition of Leviathan offers a brilliant introduction by Edwin Curley, modernized spelling and punctuation of the text, and the inclusion, along with historical and interpretive notes, of the most significant variants between the English version of 1651 and the Latin version of 1668. A glossary of seventeenth-century English terms, and indexes of persons, subjects, and scriptural passages help make this the most thoughtfully conceived edition of Leviathan available.

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  22. Machiavelli: Selected Political Writings

    Niccolo Machiavelli
    Edited and Translated by David Wootton

    “The Introduction is vibrant, comprehensive and persuasive. Manages to address the needs of undergraduates while constituting an original contribution to contemporary scholarship. Bravo!” —Alan Houston, University of California, San Diego

    “Wootton’s Introduction is an excellent piece of work that offers both scholars and students a valuable guide to Machiavelli’s texts.”  —Maurizio Viroli, Princeton University 

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  23. Man and Citizen

    Thomas Hobbes
    Edited by Bernard Gert

    Contains the most helpful version of Hobbes’s political and moral philosophy available in English. Includes the only English translation of De Homine, chapters X-XV. Features the English translation of De Cive attributed to Hobbes.

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  24. Marx: Selected Writings

    Karl Marx
    Edited by Lawrence H. Simon

    Featuring the most important and enduring works from Marx's enormous corpus, this collection ranges from the Hegelian idealism of his youth to the mature socialism of his later works. Organized both topically and in rough chronological order, the selections (many of them in the translations of Loyd D. Easton and Kurt H. Guddat) include writings on historical materialism, excerpts from Capital, and political works.

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  25. Metaphysical Elements of Justice (Second Edition)

    Immanuel Kant
    Translated, with Introduction, by John Ladd

    This volume offers the complete text of Kant’s Metaphysics of Morals, Part I, translated by John Ladd, along with Ladd’s illuminating Introduction to the first edition, expanded to include discussion of such issues as Kant’s conception of marriage and its relevance to his view of women. An updated bibliography, glossary, and index are also provided.

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  26. Modern Political Thought (Second Edition)

    Edited, with Introductions, by David Wootton

    The second edition of David Wootton's Modern Political Thought: Readings from Machiavelli to Nietzsche offers a new unit on modern constitutionalism with selections from Hume, Montesquieu, the Federalist, and Constant. In addition to a new essay by Wootton, this unit features his new translation of Constant's 1819 essay "On Ancient and Modern Liberty". Other changes include expanded selections from Machiavelli's Discourses on Livy and a new Hegel selection, all of which strengthen an already excellent anthology.

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  27. Montaigne: Selected Essays

    Michel de Montaigne
    Translated by James B. Atkinson and David Sices
    Introduction and Notes by James B. Atkinson

    "A superb achievement, one that successfully brings together in accessible form the work of two major writers of Renaissance France. This is now the default version of Montaigne in English." —Timothy Hampton, University of California, Berkeley

    "Inspired. In every page—beginning with Atkinson's brilliant Introduction—this magical Montaigne betrays a lifetime of meditation on its subject." —Stephen G. Nichols, Johns Hopkins University

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  28. Montesquieu: Selected Political Writings

    Montesquieu
    Translated and Edited by Melvin Richter

    “Professor Richter has long been one of our most knowledgeable commentators on the French intellectual tradition. Having written on Montesquieu, Tocqueville, and Durkheim, he is well positioned to provide us not only with an historically informed translation of Montesquieu’s major writings, but also with an excellent introduction to what is important about Montesquieu as a thinker.”
         —Lawrence Dickey, University of Wisconsin

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  29. On Crimes and Punishments

    Beccaria
    Translated, with Notes & Introduction, by David Young

    Includes a translator’s preface, note on the text, and suggestions for further reading.

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  30. On Law, Morality, and Politics (Second Edition)

    Thomas Aquinas
    Edited by William P. Baumgarth and Richard J. Regan, S. J.

    The second edition of Aquinas, On Law, Morality, and Politics retains the selection of texts presented in the first edition but offers them in new translations by Richard J. Regan—including that of his Aquinas, Treatise on Law (Hackett, 2000). A revised Introduction and glossary, an updated select bibliography, and the inclusion of summarizing headnotes for each of the units—Conscience, Law, Justice, Property, War and Killing, Obedience and Rebellion, and Practical Wisdom and Statecraft—further enhance its usefulness.

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  31. On Liberty

    John Stuart Mill
    Edited by Elizabeth Rapaport

    Contents include a selected bibliography and an editor's Introduction broken into two sections. The first section provides a brief sketch of the historical, social, and biographical context in which Mill wrote and the second traces the central line of argument in the text to aid in the comprehension of the essay's structure, method, and major theses.

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  32. On the Genealogy of Morality

    Friedrich Nietzsche
    Translation and Notes by Maudemarie Clark and Alan J. Swensen, Introduction by Maudemarie Clark

    "Hackett’s On the Genealogy of Morality (we now have even the correct title!) may very well change the entire climate for reading Nietzsche in English—especially if read in conjunction with their equally splendid Twilight of the Idols. . . . Competing translations of Nietzsche’s late, utterly influential masterpieces have often made them a chore, rather than a delight, to read; and their introductions generally obscure, rather than illuminate, the texts’ situations. Clark and Swensen (and Polt and Strong) have made the Genealogy and Twilight accessible and exhilarating—while leaving them, as they are, enigmatic and problematic. Finally, readers of Nietzsche in English can—begin!”
         —William Arctander O’Brien, University of California, San Diego

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  33. On the Social Contract (Second Edition)

    Jean-Jacques Rousseau
    Translated by Donald A. Cress
    Introduction and New Annotation by David Wootton

    This new edition features a revision by Donald A. Cress of his bestselling 1987 translation of On the Social Contract together with Introduction, footnotes, and chronology by David Wootton, one of our leading historians of the Enlightenment.

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  34. Perpetual Peace and Other Essays on Politics, History, and Morals

    Immanuel Kant
    Translated by Ted Humphrey

    Includes an introduction, bibliography, a note on the text, glossary of some German-English translations, and an index.

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  35. Philosopher-Kings

    C. D. C. Reeve

    "Philosopher-Kings broke new ground on its first appearance by delivering to an audience accustomed to looking for flaws in Plato's thinking an interpretation of the Republic that celebrates the coherence of Plato's argument as it ramifies through every cranny of that controversial work. Reeve's book swiftly became a classic of Platonic scholarship and has never lost its grip. Its reissue by Hackett is a very welcome event."
         —G.R.F. Ferrari, University of California, Berkeley

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  36. Philosophy of Woman (Third Edition)

    Edited, with Introduction, by Mary B. Mahowald

    “I really like this text, especially the third edition which includes important contemporary feminist philosophers. It is just right for my Philosophy of Woman course.”
        —Ann Ferguson, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

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  37. Political Treatise

    Baruch Spinoza
    Translated by Samuel Shirley
    Prefatory Essay by Douglas Den Uyl
    Introduction and Notes by Steven Barbone and Lee Rice

    The Political Treatise, Spinoza’s final work, is a largely theoretical inquiry into the fundamental principles of political philosophy. This edition offers an exceptional translation by Samuel Shirley and a prefatory essay by Douglas Den Uyl that discusses why the Political Treatise deserves the attention of contemporary scholars. Steven Barbone and Lee Rice provide ample notes, a substantial bibliography, complete indexes of names and terms, and a comprehensive general introduction, which considers the evolution of Spinoza’s political thought in the context of the political and intellectual turmoil of the times, the relationship between the Political Treatise and the Theological-Political Treatise, and the importance of the Political Treatise to a full understanding of Spinoza’s political philosophy.

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  38. Politics (Reeve Edition)

    Aristotle
    Translated, with Introduction, by C. D. C. Reeve

    “The beautifully crafted English of Reeve’s translation is as crisp and lucid as Aristotle’s Greek. One is constantly impressed with Reeve’s instinct for the right word in rendering the rich vocabulary of Aristotle’s thoughts about politics and for his ability to capture the subtleties of Aristotelian syntax. Highly recommended.” —David Keyt, University of Washington

    “This is an admirable translation, meticulous in its attention to Aristotle’s Greek and judicious in its phrasing and choice of terms. It should prove invaluable to beginning students and scholars alike.” —Richard Kraut, Northwestern University

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  39. Principles of Political Economy: With Some of Their Applications to Social Philosophy (Abridged)

    John Stuart Mill
    Edited, with Introduction, by Stephen Nathanson

    Stephen Nathanson’s clear-sighted abridgment of Principles of Political Economy, Mill’s first major work in moral and political philosophy, provides a challenging, sometimes surprising account of Mill’s views on many important topics: socialism, population, the status of women, the cultural bases of economic productivity, the causes and possible cures of poverty, the nature of property rights, taxation, and the legitimate functions of government. Nathanson cuts through the dated and less relevant sections of this large work and includes significant material omitted in other editions, making it possible to see the connections between the views Mill expressed in Principles of Political Economy and the ideas he defended in his later works, particularly On Liberty. Indeed, studying Principles of Political Economy, Nathanson argues in his general Introduction, can help to resolve the apparent contradiction between Mill’s views in On Liberty and those in Utilitarianism, making it a key text for understanding Mill’s philosophy as a whole.

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  40. Readings in Classical Political Thought

    Edited by Peter J. Steinberger

    “A distinctive and superior collection of texts suitable for both graduate and undergraduate courses. There is nothing like it elsewhere. Steinberger’s commentary is succint, accurate, and very useful.”
         —Dr. Melvin Kulbicki, York College of Pennsylvania

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  41. Reflections on the Revolution in France

    Edmund Burke
    Edited by J. G. A. Pocock

    “Pocock is, without question, the leading historian of eighteenth-century British-American political thought. . . . All of his skills are brilliantly employed in the Introduction. . . . In addition to being the best treatment of Burke’s thought in context, it is . . . the best and most concentrated presentation of Pocock’s own view of the main contours of eighteenth-century political thought. . . . Finally, the Reflections and other texts by Burke are then woven into this rich fabric, thus providing the reader with an understanding of Burke’s thought which is deeper and more complex (and surely more historically sensitive) than any available in the secondary literature.”
        —James Tully, McGill University

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  42. Reframing Politics in the Hebrew Bible

    Edited, with Introduction and Notes, by Mira Morgenstern

    Inspired by the Enlightenment readings of Hebrew biblical texts generated in the seventeenth through the nineteenth centuries, Mira Morgenstern's Reframing Politics in the Hebrew Bible goes beyond the pioneering interpretations of various biblical texts penned by such noted Bible students as Spinoza, Rousseau, and Angelina Grimké to present an introduction to the Hebrew Bible as a whole from the perspective of a modern-day political theorist. In doing so, it offers a brilliant thematic guide to the Hebrew Bible's most politically salient passages, complete with text and commentary. Morgenstern's account of the significance of these ancient yet strangely modern texts will fascinate students of both ancient and modern political theory—as well as all readers of the Hebrew Bible itself.

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  43. Republic (Grube, Second Edition)

    Plato
    Translated by G. M. A. Grube
    Revised by C. D. C. Reeve

    The revised edition of Grube’s classic translation follows and furthers Grube’s noted success in combining fidelity to Plato’s text with natural readability, while reflecting the fruits of new scholarship and insights into Plato’s thought since publication of the first edition in 1974. A new introduction, index, and bibliography by Professor Reeve are included in this new rendering.

    “C.D.C. Reeve has taken the excellent Grube translation and, without sacrificing accuracy, rendered it into a vivid and contemporary style. It is intensity that is often lost in translation, but not here. This is not just a matter of style. The Republic is full of brilliant thoughts, and one needs to preserve brilliance to capture them. In the cave of translations, Reeve’s revision of Grube’s Republic is closest to the sun.” —Jonathan Lear, University of Chicago

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  44. Rights of Man

    Thomas Paine
    Edited by Gregory Claeys

    “Claeys has done a fine job of situating Paine’s famous text in the intellectual and practical context, drawing out the most important themes, and referring the reader to the best secondary literature. . . . An excellent textbook for undergraduate courses in political theory.”
         —James Tully, McGill University

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  45. Rousseau: The Basic Political Writings (Second Edition)

    Jean-Jacques Rousseau
    Translated and Edited by Donald A. Cress
    Introduction and Annotation by David Wootton

    This substantially revised new edition of Rousseau: The Basic Political Writings features a brilliant new Introduction by David Wootton, a revision by Donald A. Cress of his own 1987 translation of Rousseau’s most important political writings, and the addition of Cress’ new translation of Rousseau's State of  War. New footnotes, headnotes, and a chronology by David Wootton provide expert guidance to first-time readers of the texts.

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  46. Second Treatise of Government

    John Locke
    Edited by C. B. Macpherson

    The Second Treatise is one of the most important political treatises ever written and one of the most far-reaching in its influence.

    In his provocative 15-page introduction to this edition, the late eminent political theorist C. B. Macpherson examines Locke's arguments for limited, conditional government, private property, and right of revolution and suggests reasons for the appeal of these arguments in Locke's time and since.

    "Macpherson provides for his readers a tightly written, meaty, and often invigorating critical assessment of Locke's argument.  In it one finds some of the best of Macpherson's now famous criticism of liberal-democratic government."
        —Gregory E. Pyrcz in Canadian Philosophical Review

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  47. The Classical Utilitarians: Bentham and Mill

    Jeremy Bentham & John Stuart Mill
    Edited, with Introduction, by John Troyer

    This volume includes the complete texts of two of John Stuart Mill’s most important works, Utilitarianism and On Liberty, and selections from his other writings, including the complete text of his “Remarks on Bentham’s Philosophy.” The selection from Mill’s “A System of Logic” is of special relevance to the debate between those who read Mill as an Act-Utilitarian and those who interpret him as a Rule-Utilitarian. Also included are selections from the writings of Jeremy Bentham, founder of modern Utilitarianism and mentor (together with James Mill) of John Stuart Mill.

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  48. The Fable of the Bees and Other Writings

    Bernard Mandeville
    Edited, with Introduction, by E. J. Hundert

    “Hundert is especially good at demonstrating how vital Mandeville’s ideas are as a major foundation for more famous Enlightenment thinkers such as Rousseau, Diderot, Voltaire and others. . . . The additions of Nicole and Bayle will be useful in courses on 18th century ethics and morals, and in general surveys of Enlightenment thought. This is probably the best one-volume edition of the main works of Mandeville now available.”
         —Irwin Primer, Rutgers University

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  49. The Good Life

    Edited, with Introduction, by Charles Guignon

    "I recently used The Good Life for my course Philosophy Through Film. I was pleasantly surprised by the development of the students' excitement for and interest in the assigned readings. Throughout the semester the students commented on the helpfulness of the editor's introductions for each reading, and they became increasingly interested in philosophy. The book was a huge success!"
         —Megan Altman, Florida Gulf Coast University

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  50. The Government of Poland

    Jean-Jacques Rousseau
    Translated by Willmoore Kendall

    "The Government of Poland is the only finished work in which Rousseau himself dons the mantle of legislator, applying the principles of the Social Contract to the real world around him. Poland teaches us much about the mysterious art of the Social Contract's 'legislator,' how he transforms each individual into part of a larger whole. Only in . . . Poland do we find what this crucial transformation entails and what it presupposes. But probably the greatest lesson to be learned from . . . Poland concerns Rousseau's understanding of the proper relationship between theory and practice. . . . Time and again we see Rousseau advising the Poles to do things which are in gross violation of the strict principles of political right he had elaborated in the Social Contract."
         —Richard Myers in Canadian Journal of Political Science

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