Modern Political Philosophy
Modern political philosophy emerged during the Renaissance and Enlightenment periods, developing revolutionary ideas about sovereignty, rights, liberty, and the social contract that continue to shape our political institutions today.
Medieval and Renaissance Transitions
City of God
Written as the Roman Empire collapsed, Augustine distinguishes between the earthly city based on self-love and the heavenly city based on love of God, establishing a framework for Christian political thought for centuries.
Medieval ChristianSumma Theologica
Aquinas synthesizes Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology, developing influential theories of natural law, just war, and the relationship between divine, natural, and human law.
Medieval Natural LawThe Prince
A revolutionary work that separated politics from ethics and examined political power pragmatically. Machiavelli's analysis of how rulers acquire and maintain power remains startlingly relevant in understanding modern politics.
Renaissance PowerDiscourses on Livy
Often overshadowed by The Prince, this work presents Machiavelli's republican theory, analyzing the Roman Republic to draw lessons for maintaining political liberty and stability.
Renaissance RepublicanismUtopia
A complex work describing an ideal society on a fictional island, critiquing contemporary European society while exploring the limits of political possibility.
Renaissance UtopianEarly Modern Political Philosophy
Leviathan
Written during the English Civil War, Hobbes argues that to avoid the "nasty, brutish, and short" life in the state of nature, people must submit to an absolute sovereign. His mechanistic view of human nature and social contract theory revolutionized political thought.
Early Modern Social ContractSecond Treatise of Government
The philosophical foundation for liberal democracy, arguing that legitimate political authority derives from the consent of the governed. Locke's defense of natural rights to life, liberty, and property profoundly influenced the American Revolution.
Early Modern LiberalismThe Social Contract
Famous for its opening line, "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains," Rousseau argues that legitimate political authority comes from a social contract where the people are both rulers and subjects under the "general will."
Early Modern Social ContractThe Spirit of the Laws
A comparative study of different forms of government, advocating the separation of powers to prevent tyranny. This work heavily influenced the framers of the U.S. Constitution.
Early Modern Separation of PowersEnlightenment Political Thought
Perpetual Peace
Kant outlines conditions for lasting peace between nations, including republican constitutions, a federation of free states, and universal hospitality. His vision remains influential in international relations theory.
Enlightenment International RelationsReflections on the Revolution in France
A foundational text of modern conservatism, criticizing abstract political theories and defending tradition, prejudice, and gradual reform against revolutionary change.
Enlightenment ConservatismA Vindication of the Rights of Woman
An early feminist work arguing that women should receive the same rights, education, and opportunities as men, challenging the political theories that excluded women.
Enlightenment Feminism