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John Locke’s Liberalism

In this work, Ruth W. Grant presents a new approach to John Locke’s familiar works. Taking the unusual step of relating Locke’s Two Treatises to his Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Grant establishes the unity and coherence of Locke’s political arguments. She analyzes the Two Treatises as a systematic demonstration of liberal principles of right and power and grounds it in the epistemology set forth in the Essay.

230 pages | 6 x 9 | © 1987

Philosophy: History and Classic Works, Philosophy of Society

Political Science: Classic Political Thought

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. The Possibility of Political Theory
Introduction
Two Kinds of Understanding
The Essay and the Two Treatises
The Application and the Foundation of Moral Knowledge
Moral Knowledge and Moral Freedom
Conclusion: Reason and Politics
2. Legitimate and Illegitimate Power: The Normative Theory
The Requirements of Political Theory
Legitimate and Illegitimate Power: The First Treatise
Legitimate and Illegitimate Power: The Second Treatise
3. Legitimate and Illegitimate Power: Practical Tests of the Normative Theory
Introduction
Obligation
Resistance
4. Reason and Politics Reconsidered
Introduction
Government as Judge
Reason, Freedom, Will
Conclusion: Locke and Liberal Theory
Bibliography
Index

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