Classical Reference Library
Explore enduring questions about political authority, justice, liberty, rights, equality, and the obligations of citizens, from early modern theories of sovereignty and social contract to later critiques of the state and economic power.
MODERN POLITICAL THOUGHT
Ian Johnston examines why citizens should obey the state, comparing the political ideas of Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Marx and their competing views of authority, liberty, equality, consent, and justice.
Read resource →STUDENT’S GUIDE · POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
A student-friendly guide to Rousseau’s On the Social Contract, explaining political freedom, sovereignty, the general will, and legitimate government, with reading questions, key concepts, and activities.
Read resource →STUDENT’S GUIDE · ENLIGHTENMENT THOUGHT & MORAL PROGRESS
An accessible introduction to Rousseau’s 1750 argument that advances in science, literature, and the arts do not necessarily improve human morality. Explores virtue, manners, luxury, vanity, and the meaning of progress, with reading questions and a contemporary comparison activity.
Read resource →STUDENT’S GUIDE · PEACE, GOVERNMENT & INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE
An accessible guide to Kant’s On Perpetual Peace, explaining the six preliminary articles, three definitive articles, republican constitutions, a federation of free states, and cosmopolitan hospitality. Includes reading prompts, discussion questions, and an activity designing a peace agreement.
Read resource →TEACHER’S GUIDE · POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
A comprehensive teaching guide to Rousseau’s On the Social Contract, exploring political legitimacy, the general will, freedom, sovereignty, and civic obligation through close readings, discussion questions, and classroom activities
Read resource →TEACHER’S GUIDE · ENLIGHTENMENT PHILOSOPHY & MORAL PROGRESS
A guide to teaching Rousseau’s provocative 1750 discourse, examining whether advances in science, literature, and the arts improve human morality. Explores virtue, luxury, social appearances, and historical argument, with discussion questions, close-reading suggestions, and a classroom activity.
Read resource →TEACHER’S GUIDE · POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY & INTERNATIONAL PEACE
A guide to teaching Kant’s On Perpetual Peace, examining the preliminary and definitive articles, republican constitutions, a federation of free states, cosmopolitan hospitality, and the relationship between morality and political expediency. Includes discussion questions, close-reading suggestions, and a classroom activity.
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