Chapter 7 Greek Political Thought and Modern Ideas of Liberty

In: Brill's Companion to the Legacy of Greek Political Thought
Author:
Paschalis M. Kitromilides
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Type:
Chapter
Pages:
195–217
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004679344_009

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Abstract

This chapter shows how the elaboration of the idea of freedom and its place in modern politics has been carried out in dialogue with ancient Greek political thought, by looking at three important, yet inadequately appreciated, texts of modern political reflection. The three texts are Leonardo Bruni’s ‘Of the republic of the Florentines’ (1439), Jean-Jacques Rousseau’ s Discourse on Political Economy (1755), and Benjamin Constant’s The Spirit of Conquest and Usurpation (1813). Despite their originality and incisive argumentation, the three sources have remained in the margins of scholarship and rhetoric on the canon of modern political thought. The paper draws attention to the texts as statements of political criticism, through which conceptions of freedom are articulated in response to the challenges of modern society.

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Series:  Brill's Companions to Philosophy: Ancient Philosophy, Volume: 8 and  Brill's Companions to Philosophy, Volume: 8
Cover Brill's Companion to the Legacy of Greek Political Thought
E-Book ISBN:
9789004679344
Publisher:
Brill
Print Publication Date:
16 Sep 2024
Front Matter
Introduction
Part 1 The Reproduction of Greek Political Thought
Part 2 Greek Thought in New Environments
Part 3 Variation and Adaptation
Part 4 Greek Thought and the Potential for Dissent
Back Matter

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