According to a commonplace narrative, the rise of modern political thought in the West resulted from secularization—the exclusion of religious arguments from political discourse. But in this pathbreaking work, Eric Nelson argues that this familiar story is wrong. Instead, he contends, political thought in early-modern Europe became less, not more, secular with time, and it was the Christian encounter with Hebrew sources that provoked this radical transformation.
During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Christian scholars began to regard the Hebrew Bible as a political constitution designed by God for the children of Israel. Newly available rabbinic materials became authoritative guides to the institutions and practices of the perfect republic. This thinking resulted in a sweeping reorientation of political commitments. In the book’s central chapters, Nelson identifies three transformative claims introduced into European political theory by the Hebrew revival: the argument that republics are the only legitimate regimes; the idea that the state should coercively maintain an egalitarian distribution of property; and the belief that a godly republic would tolerate religious diversity. One major consequence of Nelson’s work is that the revolutionary politics of John Milton, James Harrington, and Thomas Hobbes appear in a brand-new light.
Nelson demonstrates that central features of modern political thought emerged from an attempt to emulate a constitution designed by God. This paradox, a reminder that while we may live in a secular age, we owe our politics to an age of religious fervor, in turn illuminates fault lines in contemporary political discourse.
0 有用 不舍昼夜 2018-02-13 00:16:05
发人深省的一本书。应该说,发我深省。三个现代核心政治问题(共和制、财富重新分配、宗教宽容),在16-17世纪新教思想家的讨论中,都大量借鉴了犹太思想资源(主要是塔木德)。观点恐有些猛烈,但不容忽视。讨论最多的作家是弥尔顿、Grotius、Cunaenus、Selden、和Harrington。作者出身犹太家庭,又对古典思想和这一阶段的主要作者非常熟稔。引证绵密。额外的收获是明白了什么是Erasti... 发人深省的一本书。应该说,发我深省。三个现代核心政治问题(共和制、财富重新分配、宗教宽容),在16-17世纪新教思想家的讨论中,都大量借鉴了犹太思想资源(主要是塔木德)。观点恐有些猛烈,但不容忽视。讨论最多的作家是弥尔顿、Grotius、Cunaenus、Selden、和Harrington。作者出身犹太家庭,又对古典思想和这一阶段的主要作者非常熟稔。引证绵密。额外的收获是明白了什么是Erastianism。 (展开)
1 有用 Keto 2014-05-17 18:53:58
近两年看过最令人兴奋的作品之一。
0 有用 召元甫 2022-07-11 22:50:56
作者不愧是哈佛教授,斯金纳的传人,笔力惊人,简单的200页就有极其丰富的内容。书的核心观点就是17世纪并非世俗化的时代,而是复兴了希伯来传统。在埃拉斯都主义和宽容的关系一章中讨论了霍布斯。以及霍布斯不愿承认自己和共和主义的亲和性。
0 有用 召元甫 2022-07-11 22:50:56
作者不愧是哈佛教授,斯金纳的传人,笔力惊人,简单的200页就有极其丰富的内容。书的核心观点就是17世纪并非世俗化的时代,而是复兴了希伯来传统。在埃拉斯都主义和宽容的关系一章中讨论了霍布斯。以及霍布斯不愿承认自己和共和主义的亲和性。
0 有用 不舍昼夜 2018-02-13 00:16:05
发人深省的一本书。应该说,发我深省。三个现代核心政治问题(共和制、财富重新分配、宗教宽容),在16-17世纪新教思想家的讨论中,都大量借鉴了犹太思想资源(主要是塔木德)。观点恐有些猛烈,但不容忽视。讨论最多的作家是弥尔顿、Grotius、Cunaenus、Selden、和Harrington。作者出身犹太家庭,又对古典思想和这一阶段的主要作者非常熟稔。引证绵密。额外的收获是明白了什么是Erasti... 发人深省的一本书。应该说,发我深省。三个现代核心政治问题(共和制、财富重新分配、宗教宽容),在16-17世纪新教思想家的讨论中,都大量借鉴了犹太思想资源(主要是塔木德)。观点恐有些猛烈,但不容忽视。讨论最多的作家是弥尔顿、Grotius、Cunaenus、Selden、和Harrington。作者出身犹太家庭,又对古典思想和这一阶段的主要作者非常熟稔。引证绵密。额外的收获是明白了什么是Erastianism。 (展开)
1 有用 Keto 2014-05-17 18:53:58
近两年看过最令人兴奋的作品之一。