Modern Political Thought

A superbly edited collection--absolutely the best of its kind.--Ian Shapiro, Yale University

This book includes a wide and balanced selection of many of the more important texts of modern political thought. To its great credit, it provides pertinent excerpts from frequently neglected authors, such as Calvin and Hume, which it nicely juxtaposes with writings by more well-read authors such as Hobbes and Locke. The introductions to each section help to situate the writers in their historical and intellectual context and to alert students to some of the central issues that arise in the texts. An economical and useful approach to modern political thought.--Dan Engster, University of Chicago

Modern Political Thought might well replace current texts for undergraduate modern political theory and political philosophy classes. In it, primary sources are plentiful and well represented. Wootton's introductions to particular thinkers, as well as to epochs and relations among their thinkers, are absolutely first rate: clear, concise, accessible to undergraduates yet stimulating to the professional.--Peter Schouls, Massey University