A Discourse on Property: John Locke and his Adversaries [Hardcover]

James Tully (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521228301 | ISBN-13: 978-0521228305 | Publication Date: July 31, 1980

John Locke's theory of property is perhaps the most distinctive and the most influential aspect of his political theory. In this book James Tully uses an hermeneutical and analytical approach to offer a revolutionary revision of early modern theories of property, focusing particularly on that of Locke. Setting his analysis within the intellectual context of the seventeenth century, Professor Tully overturns the standard interpretations of Locke's theory, showing that it is not a justification of private property. Instead he shows it to be a theory of individual use rights within a framework of inclusive claim rights. He links Locke's conception of rights not merely to his ethical theory, but to the central arguments of his epistemology, and illuminates the way in which Locke's theory is tied to his metaphysical views of God and man, his theory of revolution and his account of a legitimate polity.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'This study makes an invaluable contribution to our knowledge and understanding of Locke and the natural law and natural rights tradition. There is no comparable study anywhere, in any language. We badly need to have this careful, scholarly examination of that important concept in Locke's political philosophy, property.' John Yoltori

'... the best and the most important piece of extended analysis of Locke's political theory on the issue of property to have been produced by a twentieth-century scholar.' John Dunn

'... Tully has succeeded brilliantly in recovering all that was implied in Locke's theory of property.' David Lieberman, The Times Literary Supplement

'... Undergraduate students of politics will learn from it how carefully a text should be treated.' G. J. Hughes, The Times Higher Education Supplement

'... a major and profound reassessment of Locke.' Mark Goldie, History

Book Description

John Locke's theory of property is perhaps the most distinctive and the most influential aspect of his political theory. In this book James Tully uses an hermeneutical and analytical approach to offer a revolutionary revision of early modern theories of property, focusing particularly on that of Locke.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (July 31, 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521228301
• ISBN-13: 978-0521228305
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,712,051 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Most Important Book About Locke, December 26, 2006

By 

John P. Irish (Bridgeport, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Discourse on Property: John Locke and his Adversaries (Paperback)

I first came across this book while a grad student in college, it inspired me so much that I followed its lead and continued the reasoning in my Master's Thesis. Basically what you have here is the most important book about Locke and his philosophy.

During the 20th century, in an attempt to show the merits of capitalism over communism (and specifically, to justify the existence of private property), many philosophers and their ideas were stolen and used to justify capitalistic ideology - Locke was one of those philosophers. This was a great tragedy; it was a serious misreading and misinterpretation of his works in an attempt to serve the status quo and use history to justify ones own political and economic agenda.

Why has Locke so often been described as a 'founding father' of capitalism (thanks especially to C.B. Macpherson and Robert Nozick)? Those philosophers that characterize his philosophy as such simply read the Two Treatises in isolation from the rest of his writings, especially the Essay concerning Human Understanding and the Essays concerning the Law of Nature.

Tully rectifies this problem by giving us an interpretation of Ch. 5 of the Second Treatise set in its historical context, within the framework of the entire Lockean corpus, and within the context of natural law theory. Tully sets the Lockean idea of 'property' within the historical context, as it would have been understood by Locke himself. He then goes on to offer an interpretation of Locke's theory of property which is more consistent with his natural law theory and his Christian worldview.

Locke is the most important thinker in the Western intellectual tradition - Cambridge University Press is doing a great service to Lockean followers by reissuing this classic work in a paperback edition. This book was out of print when I was a grad student, so it is nice to finally have my own edition!

If you are looking for great analysis and historical scholarship at its highest level, purchase this book - then go read your Locke.