Peter Laslett and the DEATH of Political Philosophy
Transcript of 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