The Key Texts of Political Philosophy

Abstract

This book introduces readers to analytical interpretation of seminal writings and thinkers in the history of political thought, including Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, the Bible, Thomas Aquinas, Machiavelli, Bacon, Hobbes, Locke, Montesquieu, Rousseau, Tocqueville, Marx, and Nietzsche. Chronologically arranged, each chapter in the book is devoted to the work of a single thinker. The selected texts together engage with 2000 years of debate on fundamental questions including: what is the purpose of political life? What is justice? What is a right? Do human beings have rights? What kinds of human virtues are there and which regimes best promote them? The difficulty of accessing the texts included in this volume is the result not only of their subtlety but also of the dramatic change in everyday life. The authors shed light on the texts' vocabulary and complexities of thought and help students understand and weigh the various interpretations of each philosopher's thought.

[Retracted] On the Ways of Political Philosophy Innovation and Popularization under the Network Environment

“…It has gradually become an important platform for us to obtain various information and interpersonal communication, and it has become a new way of life and social development trend. The main purpose of the network environment is to allow humans to understand the world from representation to ontology, as shown in Figure 1 [ 2 ]. The cognition and cultivation of political consciousness are inseparable from human perception of the relationship between nature, environment, and human society.…”

“…The popularization of Marxism is a scientific proposition and a historical task related to the Marxist theory and the future and destiny of Chinese social development, and is a fundamental project to strengthen the construction of socialist ideology. Xi Jinping pointed out that “Marxism is an open theoretical system that develops with the development of the times, practice and science [ 6 ]. It does not end the truth, but opens up the road to the truth.” The specific content of Marxism is shown in Table 1 .…”

Attempt at Dissecting Duterte’s Presidency Using the Political Ideas of Plato, Hobbes, Locke, and Machiavelli

“…In fact, Plato's contribution to government lies in his concept of an ideal state, rooted in virtue and the common good [1]. Meanwhile, Hobbes and Locke, both emphasized the need for government to protect life and property but clashed in their views on the power of the ruler and the necessity of checks and balances [2]. In addition, Locke's theory of government, in particular, offered the foundation for the construction of limited government and social revolution [3].…”