The Political Theory of the American Founding: Natural Rights, Public Policy, and the Moral Conditions of Freedom

by Thomas G. West (Author)

56 ratings

ISBN-13: 978-1316506035

ISBN-10: 1316506037

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This book provides a complete overview of the American Founders' political theory, covering natural rights, natural law, state of nature, social compact, consent, and the policy implications of these ideas. The book is intended as a response to the current scholarly consensus, which holds that the Founders' political thought is best understood as an amalgam of liberalism, republicanism, and perhaps other traditions. West argues that, on the contrary, the foundational documents overwhelmingly point to natural rights as the lens through which all politics is understood. The book explores in depth how the Founders' supposedly republican policies on citizen character formation do not contradict but instead complement their liberal policies on property and economics. Additionally, the book shows how the Founders' embraced other traditions in their politics, such as common law and Protestantism.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

'Some claim that the founders were early-modern liberals. Others argue that the founders were primarily exponents of republicanism. Still others claim that the founders bequeathed to us an amalgam of these two strains of thought, together perhaps with still other influences. West’s great ambition with this book, one that he achieves, is to show that in their self-understanding the founders grounded the American regime on natural law and natural rights, and sought to promote virtue, and in particular the virtues necessary to a self-governing people seeking to secure their natural rights. The combination of natural rights and virtue promoted by the founders does not come from two separate streams of thought. Rather, natural rights and virtue are, so to speak, two sides of the same coin.' Luigi Bradizza, Voegelinview (www.voegelinview.com)

'By reintroducing the moral underpinnings of the founders’ natural rights republic, Thomas G. West has made an extraordinary contribution to our understanding of American political thought. He shows that the founders’ republicanism is a part of their liberalism; that duties and rights, properly understood, are not at odds. In doing so, The Political Theory of the American Founding not only helps us better understand America’s principles, it explains why we ought to cherish them and fight to restore them to their rightful place in our political life.' Vincent Phillip Muñoz , University of Notre Dame

Book Description

This book provides a complete overview of the Founders' natural rights theory and its policy implications.

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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cambridge University Press (April 3, 2017)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 428 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1316506037
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1316506035
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.3 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.08 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #98,677 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #59 in Political History (Books)
- #99 in Political Freedom (Books)
- #102 in Government

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56 ratings

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Mike Sabo

A Masterpiece

Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2017

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In this book, Thomas G. West gives a comprehensive overview of the American founders' natural rights theory and examines the policy implications of that theory. West counters scholars and historians who argue that the founders' theory is simply an amalgam of disparate strands of liberalism, republicanism, Scottish enlightenment theory, and British common law. Instead, he argues that a coherent theory of natural rights is at the core of the founders' political thought and determined the extent to which those traditions were accepted. West also connects the founders' theory to their policies, showing that they thought government (i.e., the state governments) should inculcate virtue and morality through an intricate web of laws designed to protect individual rights and the sanctity of the family. He also gives a detailed examination of the founders' economic views, which focused on securing property rights, maintaining a domestic free market, and sound money. This book is a masterpiece that should be on the bookshelf of every scholar and patriot who cares about their nation.

75 people found this helpful

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J.B. Yang

Understanding the Natural Law philosophy of America's Founding Fathers

Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2019

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Mr. West reconstruct the Natural Law philosophy of America's Founders, referencing primary source material such as letters, contemporaneous writings, and state constitutions. in order to define such terms, as "liberty," "equality," and "pursuit of happiness" in the contemporary context. He discusses the United States as an experiment in application of the political philosophy of the Enlightenment, an experiment that was rejected by Europe variously in the French Revolution and the two World Wars, but which continues in the US, and the preservation of which requires vigilance and participation by its citizenry.

2 people found this helpful

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G. Willis

Easy to Understand. Pleasure to read.

Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2019

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Outstanding book. I was looking for a book that thoroughly covered the principles of freedom simply and accurately. This was that book. I've added it to my recommended reading list which doesn't happen very often.

3 people found this helpful

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Bruce A Newman

Magnum Opus

Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2019

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Highly recommend. This is another outstanding work on the American founding by Dr. West. He solidifies his postion as the scholar of the founding.

2 people found this helpful

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Alina Ionescu-Graff

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2018

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great book. very useful.

2 people found this helpful

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Raymond M Crawford

What the Foounding Fathers had in mind when writing the Constitution.

Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2018

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Thorough review of the founding fathers basic political theory based on wide range of references available at the time of the writing of the constitution. This is a good read.

One person found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2018

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Well written, cogent and interesting

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Aristotle52

Highly recommend for anyone interested in learning about the ideas influencing ...

Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2017

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This latest work by Thomas G. West,The Political Theory of the American Founding, is his compendious articulation of the political thought and political philosophy of the Founders when they created the American Republic. Highly recommend for anyone interested in learning about the ideas influencing the Founders. A must read for anyone who wants to teach History without the Progressive slant. I plan to incorporate it into my next semester US History and Government classes.

18 people found this helpful

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matthias

Very detailed

Reviewed in Germany on December 21, 2019

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I give 5 stars because the author achieves his stated goal of weighing different interpretations against each other and giving us the big picture of the creation of the constitution and everything it concerns.
But I came to realize that a shorter more opinionated introduction would have been sufficient for me.

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