Thomas Paine and the Idea of Human Rights

'A superb reconstruction of Paine's thought. Dr Lamb draws on a wide range of sources, including pamphlets and correspondence, to show the coherence of Paine's beliefs. Paine's profound commitment to the moral equality of free individuals inspired his liberal theory of human rights. Lamb's book combines meticulous historical research with rigorous analytic arguments.' Mark Bevir, University of California, Berkeley

'In his outstanding study of Paine's reflections on moral, political, economic, international, and religious matters, Robert Lamb sets out to demonstrate both the continued relevance and the philosophical coherence of this underrated eighteenth-century thinker.' Clement Fatovic, The Review of Politics

Robert Lamb is Associate Professor of Political Philosophy at the University of Exeter. His research is focused on the history of political thought and its methodology as well as contemporary political theory. He is the co-editor of Selected Political Writings of John Thelwall (with Corinna Wagner, 2009) and his work has been published in various international journals, including The Journal of Politics, The Review of Politics, History of Political Thought, the Journal of the History of Ideas, Law and Philosophy, the European Journal of Political Theory and History of the Human Sciences.

Introduction; 1. Paine as political philosopher: interpretation and understanding; 2. Political obligation, human rights and the moral universe; 3. Rights of democratic inclusion and the virtues of citizenship; 4. Private property, the natural inheritance and rights to welfare; 5. Cosmopolitanism and the rights of nations; 6. Religion, creation and liberalism; Conclusion.