Publisher's Synopsis
Western Political Thought: Ancient--Medieval--Enlightenment--Modern
Based on the teachings of the late Prof. Patrick Riley, a distinguished scholar in the field, Western Political Thought: Ancient--Medieval--Enlightenment--Modern offers a comprehensive exploration of the pivotal ideas and thinkers who have shaped the political landscape of the Western world. Organized into four parts, this work covers the evolution of political philosophy across the Ancient, Medieval, Enlightenment, and Modern periods, providing readers with a clear and accessible understanding of complex political theories.
In Part 1, the book starts by exploring the political and ethical reflections of figures such as Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, and Augustine, who laid the groundwork for Western conceptions of governance, justice, and virtue. In Part 2 the Medieval era covers the writings of, among others, Thomas Aquinas, Dante, and Machiavelli, where theology and political philosophy intersect.
The Enlightenment, Part 3, includes the revolutionary ideas of Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Kant, exploring concepts of individual liberty, the social contract, and rational governance that sparked modern democratic thought.
Finally, Part IV, the Modern section addresses more recent political theories, engaging with the works of John Stuart Mill, Karl Marx, Friedrich Nietzsche, and contemporary scholars like John Rawls and Robert Nozick just to mention a few. In all the ideas of some 40 political thinkers who shaped the West are covered.Whether you are a student of political philosophy or a curious reader interested in the evolution of political ideas, this book offers an insightful and thought-provoking journey through the history of Western political thought.
