British political thought, 1600-1800

This course is intended as an introduction to the key figures, theories and themes associated with the first two centuries of modern British political thought, from 1600 to 1800. Among those featured are Hobbes and Locke (and the nature of political obligation); Hume and Smith (and the relationship between wealth and virtue); Burke and Paine (and the nature of constitution); and the Romantic critics of Enlightenment orthodoxy. Although each individual thinker will be discussed on his own terms, and in the specific content of his times, the course will also explore the common concerns – such as the nature of modern liberty; the grounds of obligation; the cultivation of civic virtue; and the basis of the claim to know better – that unite them all. Every effort will also be made, throughout the course, to underline and illustrate the continuing relevance of each of these theories both for Britain and for political life in general.