Thomas Jefferson and Philosophy
Essays on the Philosophical Cast of Jefferson's Writings
Contributions by James J. Carpenter, Garrett Ward Sheldon, Richard E. Dixon, Paul B. Thompson, Derek H. Davis, William Merkel, Richard Guy Wilson, M. Andrew Holowchak Edited by M. Andrew Holowchak Rider University
Publication date:
11 December 2013Length of book:
200 pagesPublisher
Lexington BooksDimensions:
235x159mm6x9"
ISBN-13: 9780739180914
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.
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.
“This impressive collection of essays offers a good introduction to the central questions of Jefferson scholarship, seeking genuinely to understand his thought rather than only to judge the man by the standards of our own time.”