The Political Theory of the American ..., Thomas G. West
The Political Theory of the American ..., Thomas G. West
List: $29.99 | Sale: $21.00
Club: $14.99

The Political Theory of the American Founding
Natural Rights, Public Policy, And The Moral Conditions Of Freedom

Author: Thomas G. West

Narrator: Christopher Grove

Unabridged: 16 hr 24 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 01/14/2020

Synopsis

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.

About Thomas G. West

Thomas G. West holds the Paul Ermine Potter and Dawn Tibbets Potter Endowed Professorship at Hillsdale College, Michigan. His research areas include American political thought, natural law and natural right, Aquinas, Hobbes, Locke, and Leo Strauss.

Reviews

Goodreads review by JR

A thoroughly argued and primary-sourced "complete overview of the American founders' political theory." West sources the public documents of the major political leaders from around 1760-1800. He heavily relies on James Q. Wilson's "Lectures on Law" and state constitutions (this is a good thing!). Thi......more

Goodreads review by Jeffrey

Easily one of the best books on the American Founding that I’ve read. Thomas West makes a persuasive case that the Founders’ vision was shaped primarily by the Enlightenment theories of natural law and natural rights. He examines their voluminous writings—pamphlets, diaries, official documents and e......more

Goodreads review by Christopher

Excellent and a most informative book which will undoubtedly prove a useful resource against the critics (among the right and the left) who have taken to faulting the American founding for the present ills of our nation, revealing that the founders were actually far more coherent and unified in thei......more

Add to Cart
Add to Wish List