HISTORY OF WESTERN POLITICAL THOUGHT

This book covers Western Political Thought from the very beginning to Karl Marx. It has been written in a simple and lucid style. Controversial matters have been dealt with in such a way that scientific and objective conclusions may be drawn. The book has been planned as an ideal textbook for the students and a reference book for the teachers.

Book Contents

16. Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) The State of Nature, Natural Rights and Natural Law, The Origin of the State, Hobbess Theory of Sovereignty, On Law, Individualism in Hobbes Political Philosophy, Criticism of Hobbess Theory, Contribution, His Influence. 17. John Locke (1632-1704) Background, Human Nature, The State of Nature, The Social Contract, Features of Contract, Locke on Natural Rights of Man, Locke on Government, The Right of Revolution, The Place of Locke in the History of Political Thought, His Influence. 18. Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1770) The Life and Works of Rousseau, Life, His Writings, State of Nature, Social contract, Rousseaus Concepts of General Will, General Will, Its Criticism, Merits, Confusion and Different Conclusions on Rousseau, General Will. 19. Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau Compared 20. Montesquieu (1689-1755) Life, Civil Liberty, Political Liberty, Theory of Separation of Powers, Criticism, Republic, Monarchy, Despotism, Criticism, Contributions of Montesquieu. 21. Hume and Burke David Hume (1711-1778), Refutation of Social Contracts, His Place, Edmund Burke (1729-96), Burkes on Social Contract, State and Society, Burke on Human Rights, His Views on British Constitution, Burke as Champion of Conservation, Criticism, Bibliography, Books for General Study, Books for General Reading in Order of Importance. 22. Bentham to Marx Introduction The Background of Modern Political Thought, Characteristics of the 19th Century, French Revolution and American War of Independence, Increase in Population and Urbanization, Change in Intellectual Field, Utilitarian Theory, Theory of the Historical Study of Law, Organic View of the State, Utopian Socialism, Scientific Socialism, Idealism, Doctrine of Sovereignty, Scientific or Psychological School, Conclusion, Utilitarianism, History and Background of Utilitarianism, The Founder of Utilitarian School, Basic Features of the Utilitarianism, Popularity of the Utilitarianism, Conception of Utility, Utilitarian and Individualism, Conclusion. 23. Utilitarianism Bentham (1748-1832), Life History of Bentham, Meaning of Utility, Reforms, Benthams Ideas, Impact, Evaluation, J.S. Mill (1806-73), Mill on Liberty, Views on Democracy, Main Function of the Government, Mills Views on Election, Mills View on Legislature, Mill and Democracy, Defects of Democracy according to Mill, An Evaluation of Mills Views on Representative Government, Difference between Mill and Bentham, Mill on Liberty, Views on Democracy, Conclusion, Summary, John Austin (1790-1859), Early Life, John Austins Theory of Sovereignty, His Contribution towards Law, Criticism of Austins Theory of Sovereignty, Conclusion, Summary, Individualism. 24. Sovereignty Emergence of Powerful State and Rulers, Contribution of Social Contract Thinkers, Views of Pluralist Thinkers and Montesquieu, Summary. 25. Idealism General Features of Idealism, A Brief History of Idealistic School, Distinction between Reall Will and Actual Will is False, Two kinds of Idealism, Principles of Idealism, Principles of Liberal Idealism, Difference, Idealists are Conservative, Conclusion, Kant (1724-1804), Life Sketch and Writing of Kant, Political Idea of Kant, Kants Conception of Moral Freedom, Hegels Criticism, Kants views regarding State, Individualistic Elements in Kants Thoughts, Kant and Social Contract, Kants Views on Sovereignty and Law, Kants Doctrine of Punishment and Duty, Against Revolution and War, Kants Views on Functions of States, Kants Views on Government, Kants Views on Peace and Progress, Evaluation, Summary, A Brief life Sketch of Hegel, State and General Will, Freedom and State Absolutism, Nationalism and War, International Law, History, Property, Punishment, Evaluation, Hegel, Introductory, Hegels Criticism of Kantian Conception of Freedom, Liberty is Possible only in Social Life, Is Hegelian Liberty a Mockery, Hegel regards State as Omnipotent, State is Above Natural Law and Morality, State is Unrestrained in international Field, Hegel is not a Pacifist, History, Criticism of Hegels Conception of Freedom, Views of Green, Other Views, Evaluation, Summary, The Characteristic Feature of Hegels Philosophy, Dialectic, State, Criticism of Hegel, Summary. 26. English Idealist Thinkers Green (1836-1882), His Life, Greens Writings, Sources of Greens Thought, Green on State, Green on Freedom, Principles of Political Obligation, Green on Rights, Individual Right of Resistance, Green on Property, Green on Punishment, Green on War, Green on Individualism, Green on General Will, Green and Hegel, Evaluation, Greens views on Liberty and Greens Positive Freedom, Greens Liberal Ideas, Green and Kant, Differences with Hegel, Summary, Political Obligation, Resistance to Authority, Negative Functions, Positive or Constructive Functions, Education, Evaluation, Summary, Green on Rights, The Right to resist the State, Natural Rights (Law), Natural Law, State and Other Association, Summary, Conventional Theories of the Punishment, Greens Conception of Punishment, Summary, Greens Views on Property, Criticism, Green about War, Importance of Right to Life, Green on Internationalism or Universal Brotherhood, Summary, Greens Political Thought, The contribution of Green to Modern Liberalism, Introduction, Individualistic and Liberal Influence on Green, Influence of Liberalism, Criticism, Estimate, Summary, Francis Herbert Bradley, Life, Ideas, Criticism, Evaluation, Summary, The Political Thought of George Benard Bosanquet, Introduction, Actual and Real Will, Institutions, The State, Public and Private Acts, Bosanquet on Punishment, War, Views on War and Difference with Green, Bosanquet and Hegel, Criticism, Evaluation, Summary, Views on State, Summary, Division. 27. Scientific School Herbert Spencer Individualist (1820-1903 Biological Approach) His Life, His Writings, Sources of Spencers Philosophy, Negative Functions of the State, Organic and Evolutionary Conception of Society, Evaluation, Summary, Spencers Theory of Evolution, Influence of Darwin, Evolution of Society, Comparasion with Body, Support of Individualism, Summary, Evolution & Organic Theory, Evolution, Dissimilarities between State and Organism, Consequences of Organic Theory of the State, Mill Vs. Spencer, Summary, Views on Rights, Favour of Individualism by an Organic View of Spencer, Contribution of Spencer, Inconsistencies of Spencers Thought, Estimate, Wrights Comments, Summary. 28. The Psycholocigal School (Bagehot, Graham Wallace and Mc-Dougal) Introduction, His Work, His Political Philosophy, The English Constitution, Estimate, Summary, Graham Wallas (1858-1930), Life, His Works, Introduction, Human Nature, His Book Great Society and its Impact, Evaluation, Summary, Introduction, His Works, His Political Ideas, Evaluation, Summary, Importance of Economics, Summary, Evaluation. 29. Socialism Introduction, Various Definitions, Socialism in India, Summary, Indian Outlook, Socialism in Modern age, Essentials of Socialism, Summary, Christian Socialists, Lauis Balance and Proudhan, Summary. 30. Karl Marx (1818-1883) Introduction, Engels, His Works, Evaluation, The Communist Manifesto, Advancement of Industries, Evaluation, Summary, Hegels Influence, Views of Engels, Influence of Other Thinkers, Views of Stalin, Summary, Materialistic Conception of History, Importance of Economic Factors, Historical Process, Slave Society, Feudal Society, Capitalistic State, Socialistic Society, Communistic Society, Historical Determinism, Criticism, Summary, Marxs Theory of Class Struggle, Effect of Capitalist Society, Criticism, Summary, The Basic Principles of Marxism, Criticism, Surplus Value, Criticism, Summary, The Marxian Theory of the State, Hobbess Influence, Importance of Working Class, Criticism, Summary, The Evaluation of Marxism, Clear Cut Theory, Terror to Exploiters, Demerits of Marxism, Revisionism, Summary, Conclusion.