peter laslett and the death of political philosophy

H I S T O R Y

O F

P O L I T I C A L T H O U G H T

–

I N T R O D U C T I O N

T O D A Y 2

·Process of the Course

·Approach to classical texts:

~the case of John Lockeand the DEATH of political

philosophy~

Process of the Course 3

·Prior to the lecture: read the primary text

-In what year(s) was the text written?-In what year was the text published?-During the time when the text was published, what were the foremost developments of the society which the author was a part of?

·During the lecture: key themes and concepts

·After the lecture: re-read the primary text

Examination 4

Exam (70%) - 22 March, 8.45 hrs - 11.30 hrs

-Multiple Choice questions-Essay questions

Paper (30%) - 29 February, 17.00 hrs (Blackboard)

1) What constitutes the ideal form of rule of the political society?

2) To what extent is this ideal form of rule present in our contemporary society?

Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Spinoza, Locke

John Locke (1632-1704)5

The Glorious Revolution (1688-1689) 6

King James II of England (Catholic)

produces a male heir to the throne in 1688 which instigates

fear for a Catholic dynasty

James's sister Mary is married to the stadtholder of the Dutch Republic, William of Orange;

ascend together to the throne of England with support from

Parliament after the Glorious Revolution

Peter Laslett (1915-2001)7

Discovers Locke's personal library by chance in 1950s,

commissioned to catalogue library,

seeks to establish meaning of Two Treatises as Locke wanted it read,

leads to an important discovery...

Locke & the Earl of Shaftesbury 8

Exclusion Crisis (1679-1681)9

King Charles IIof England, Scotland and Irelandproduced no heir to his throne

James, Duke of Yorkbrother of the King and thus heir apparent, also Roman Catholic

Laslett's discovery10

Two Treatises of Governmentwas written mostly in 1679-1680 and is a demand for

revolution,an Exclusion Tract,

meant as an intervention in the Exclusion Crisis (1679-1681),

and not a pamphlet justifying the Glorious Revolution (1688-

1689) from hindsight.

Laslett's discovery11

Two Treatises of Governmentwas written mostly in 1679-1680 and is a demand for

revolution,an Exclusion Tract,

meant as an intervention in the Exclusion Crisis (1679-1681),

and not a pamphlet justifying the Glorious Revolution (1688-

1689) from hindsight.

Implications of

Thus, Two Treatises of Government is a political-party work

rather than

an abstract work of philosophy

Laslett in 1956: 12

Classical notion

Political philosop

hyPoliticalpractice

Public debate,political parties

'For the moment, anyway, political philosophy is dead'

Laslett's notion

Subjective

Laslett in 1956: 13

Classical notion

Political philosop

hyPoliticalpractice

Public debate,political parties

'For the moment, anyway, political philosophy is dead'

Laslett's notion

Subjective

On the use of political philosophy14

Locke's Two

Treatises (and other

works)

Exclusion Crisis 1679-1681

Subjective

Present day

politicalpractice

Reflect on alternatives