Naturalism and democracy : a commentary on Spinoza's political treatise in the context of his system /
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Naturalism and Democracy , first published in German in 2014, presents a long-awaited commentary on Spinoza's Political Treatise (Tractatus politicus) . Its contents reflect a recent intensification in the interest in Spinoza's political philosophy in Germany. The volume addresses Spinoza's political philosophy according to its place within his philosophical system as a whole, beginning with his theory of the natural genesis of law and state. Following from this are commentaries on the foundations of political philosophy, the relation of natural and state law, the theory of sovereignty, and theory of international relations. These chapters lay the basis for four essays interpreting Spinoza's attempt to conceive of a systematic optimization of political and legal institutions for all three forms of governance (monarchy, aristocracy, democracy). The volume closes with an analysis of the current relevance of Spinoza's political thinking and his influence on contemporary debates.
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1 online resource. :
Includes bibliographical references and index. :
9789004396944
Niccolò Machiavelli : history, power, and virtue /
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This volume is an attempt to rethink Niccolò Machiavelli, one of the most challenging political thinkers in the history of European political thought. In 2013, we will mark 500 years since Machiavelli wrote his puzzling letter to Lorenzo de' Medici, Il Principe . This book is an endeavor to cover some of the most complex aspects of Machiavelli's life and work.
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"This book is the outcome of a series of international seminars on Niccolò Machiavelli and early modern European political philosophy held at Vytautas Magnus University School of Political Science and Diplomacy in Kaunas, Lithuania"--Page [ix]. :
1 online resource (114 pages) : illustrations. :
Includes bibliographical references and index. :
9789042032781 :
Available to subscribing member institutions only.
Civil Society, Religion, and the Nation : Modernization in Intercultural Context: Russia, Japan, Turkey /
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Japan, Russia, and Turkey are major examples of countries with different ethnic, religious, and cultural background that embarked on the path of modernization without having been colonized by a Western country. In all three cases, national consciousness has played a significant role in this context. The project of Modernity is obviously of European origin, but is it essentially European? Does modernization imply loss of a country's cultural or national identity? If so, what is the "fate" of the modernization process in these cases? The presence of the idea and reality of civil society can be considered a real marker of Modernity in this respect, because it presupposes the development of liberalism, individualism and human rights. But are these compatible with nationalism and with the idea of a national religion? These questions are the more pressing, as Japan is considered part of the Western world in many respects, and Russia and Turkey are defining their relation to the European Union in different ways. An investigation of these three countries, set off against more general reflections, sheds light on the possibilities or limitations of modernization n a non-European context.
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1 online resource. :
Includes bibliographical references and index. :
9789401201421
9789042016651
Private and public lies : the discourse of despotism and deceit in the Graeco-Roman world /
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Graeco-Roman literary works, historiography, and even the reporting of rumours were couched as if they came in response to an insatiable desire by ordinary citizens to know everything about the lives of their leaders, and to hold them to account, at some level, for their abuse of constitutional powers for personal ends. Ancient writers were equally fascinated with how these same individuals used deceit as a powerful tool to disguise private and public reality. The chapters in this collection examine the themes of despotism and deceit from both historical and literary perspectives, over a range of historical periods including classical Athens, the Hellenistic kingdoms, late republican and early imperial Rome, late antiquity, and Byzantium.
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"Represents the proceedings of the conference ... held at the University of Melbourne from 7-10 July 2008"--Pref. :
1 online resource. :
Includes bibliographical references (p. [387]-423) and indexes. :
9789004188839 :
1572-0500 ; :
Available to subscribing member institutions only.