Hobbes, Locke, and Confusion's Masterpiece

In this major study of the foundations of modern political theory the eminent political philosopher Ross Harrison explains, analyzes, and criticizes the work of Hobbes, Locke, and their contemporaries. He provides a full account of the turbulent historical background that shaped the political, intellectual, and religious content of this philosophy. The book explores such questions as the limits of political authority and the relation of the legitimacy of government to the will of its people in non-technical, accessible prose that will appeal to students of philosophy, politics, theology and history.

ISBN 052101719X   DEWEY edition DC21 ISBN13 9780521017190 (What's this?)   Pages 288 Publisher Cambridge University Press   Volumes 1 Imprint Cambridge University Press   Weight (grammes) 430 Format Paperback   Published in Cambridge Publication date 16 Dec 2002   Height (mm) 228 Non-book description v, 281 p. ;   Width (mm) 152 Library of Congress 2002022279   Spine width (mm) 16 DEWEY 192   Academic level Professional / Scholarly

		Introduction		1
1		The Word		7
2		The Great Beast Leviathan		43
3		The State of Hobbes's Nature		70
4		Hobbes: The Birth of Justice		101
5		War and Peace: Grotius and Pufendorf		132
6		Locke's Law		163
7		Disobedient Locke		190
8		The Key to Locke's Property		219
9		Why Utility Pleases		245
		Book Notes		267
		Index		277

'... an outstanding treatment of seventeenth-century political philosophy ... Harrison is far more philosophically tenacious than are most commentators on the political thought of this period. His questing interpretations of the works of familiar authors tease out puzzles in their arguments that are rarely discussed ... He is sensitive to historical context in which the theories emerged and the historical situations of their authors. He presents the work of Grotius, Hobbes etc. as attempts to deal with the problems raised by war and civil conflict, and weaves historical and philosophical themes together with immense skill.' Susan James, Birkbeck College, University of London 'A masterpiece of clarity, rigorously argued and sensitive to the historical contexts of the texts it studies, Harrison's book combines the virtues of Cambridge analytical philosophers and Cambridge intellectual historians. ... Confusion's Masterpiece is a challenging, stylish, witty book, and a brilliant contribution to the history of modern political philosophy.' The Philosophical Quarterly '... brilliant ... Marshalling talents that are rare in combination, he applies to these texts historical sensitivity, philosophical acuity and a light-footed lucidity.' British Journal for the History of Philosophy

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