Moderate Liberalism and the Scottish Enlightenment

Montesquieu, Hume, Smith and Ferguson

AvConstantine Christos Vassiliou

Häftad, Engelska, 2025

Del i serien Edinburgh Studies in Comparative Political Theory and Intellectual History

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Beskrivning

Moderate Liberalism and the Scottish Enlightenment responds to a perennial problem in political theory: how to balance commercial considerations with the public good. It investigates this dilemma through the lenses of Enlightenment thinkers whose liberal theories responded to the hazards of commercial innovation during capitalism's nascent stages. Vassiliou argues that Montesquieu, David Hume, Adam Smith, and Adam Ferguson represent a moderate perspective in foundational liberal thought, which emphasizes the critical importance of honour. He compares how their liberal theories uniquely channel human beings' desire for honour to nourish a sense of interpersonal magnanimity within an inward-looking, liberal commercial world. In an age of polarized extremes, we have witnessed restive democracies flirting with populist, illiberal responses for managing the hazards of capitalist innovation. Montesquieu and his Scottish counterparts' foundational liberal theories offer us more viable, middle-ground prescriptions which are sensitive to the emotional constitution of a liberal society.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum:2025-05-31
Mått:156 x 234 x 12 mm
Vikt:313 g
Format:Häftad
Språk:Engelska
Serie:Edinburgh Studies in Comparative Political Theory and Intellectual History
Antal sidor:192
Förlag:Edinburgh University Press
ISBN:9781399521208

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Constantine Christos Vassiliou is Civitas Research Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin. He is a political theorist and historian of ideas specialising in Enlightenment political thought. He is the co-editor and wrote the introductory chapter for Liberal Education and Citizenship in a Free Society (MU Press), a book that examines the relationship between liberal education and socially responsible citizenship in the United States. He is also a chapter contributor and co-editor (w/ Jeffrey Church and Alin Fumurescu) of The Spirit of Montesquieu’s Persian Letters (Lexington Press).

Recensioner i media

Constantine Vassiliou’s ambitious book offers its readers a timely opportunity to reexamine Montesquieu’s complex ideas on finance, commerce, honor, and liberty in the context of his engagement with the ideas of the Scottish Enlightenment. It starts from the impact of the events related to John Law’s system on Montesquieu’s intellectual formation and puts his ideas in dialogue with Adam Smith, David Hume, and Adam Ferguson. Vassiliou admirably succeeds in shedding fresh light on the complexity of Montesquieu’s liberalism and invites us to rethink the importance of political moderation for addressing our contemporary economic and political challenges.

Innehållsförteckning

AcknowledgementsPreface A Liberal Framework for Inspiring Magnanimity in the Modern Commercial World Introduction Montesquieu’s Moderate Liberalism and the Scottish EnlightenmentChapter 1. From High Society to High Finance: ‘John Law’s System and the Spectre of Modern Despotism' Chapter 2. ‘Real Wealth’ vs. ‘Fictional Wealth’ in an Age of High Finance: Montesquieu, Hume and Smith Chapter 3. ‘Ancient Prudence' Vs. ‘Modern Prudence': Montesquieu’s Response to James HarringtonChapter 4. Montesquieu and Hume’s English and French AffinitiesChapter 5. Liberty and Honour in Britain and FranceChapter 6. Montesquieu’s HonourChapter 7. A Liberal Art for the Commercial World: Adam Smith and Adam FergusonConclusion Moderate Liberalism for a Commercial World in TransitionBibliography