Though it is not uncommon for historians to have something to say concerning philosophical strands in Jefferson s thought, that something is usually insubstantial often misleadingly so or inchoate. Overall, precious little has been said. The significance of the man and the richness of his thought demands that this defect be remedied. Thomas Jefferson and Philosophy is a collection of nine new essays on philosophical elements in Jefferson s writings. The first of its kind, this collection should lead to further philosophical analysis of Jefferson s thinking especially by philosophers, who tend to appreciate Jefferson only as the author of the Declaration of Independence and to greater appreciation for the man who gave to statesmanship a large number of the prime of his years out of a moral sense of duty to others. In that regard, Jefferson was always first a philosopher. This book will be a valuable read for students and scholars of history, political theory, and philosophy, as well as anyone interested in the thought of Thomas Jefferson."

New York, Bern, Berlin, Frankfurt/M., Paris, Wien. This book contains a concise presentation of the major political theories underlying the Western tradition and contemporary ideological debates in America and the world. From the Ancients, Plato and Aristotle, to contemporary Americans, Rawls, Nozick and Barber, the book examines each thinker's conception of Human Nature, Political Society and Social Ethics. Extensive excerpts from the original writings and their relation to American political principles distinguish this valuable text.

Examining Jefferson's views on democracy, rights, freedom, and slavery as well as the cultural and economic context of his ideas in the Virginia gentry class, this book not only offers a concise introduction to Jefferson's political philosophy but also makes a thought-provoking contribution to a current historiographic controversy.