Commercial Republicanism in the Dutch Golden Age
The Political Thought of Johan & Pieter de la Court
Series: - Studies in the History of Political Thought, Volume: 7
The Dutch seventeenth century, a ‘Golden Age’ ridden by intense ideological conflict, pioneered global trade, participatory politics and religious toleration. Its history is epitomized by the life and works of the brothers Johan (1622-1660) and Pieter de la Court (1618-1685), two successful textile entrepreneurs and radical republican theorists during the apex of Dutch primacy in world trade. This book explores the many facets of the brothers’ political thought, focusing on their ground-breaking argument that commerce forms the mainstay of republican politics. With a contextual analysis that highlights the interaction between thinking and acting, between intellectual and cultural history, the book reveals the international significance of this commercial republicanism and it proposes a novel, rhetorical approach to seventeenth-century Dutch political culture.
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Arthur Weststeijn, Ph.D. (2010) in History, European University Institute in Florence, is Director of Historical Studies at the Royal Netherlands Institute in Rome. His research focuses on the intellectual history of the early-modern Dutch Republic from an international perspective. This is his first book.
"This book fills a gaping hole in the historiography of seventeenth-century political thought." – Justus Nipperdey, in: European Review of History – Revue europeenne d'histoire 20/2 (2013), pp. 317-318
"Weststeijn’s timely study, [...] marks a major step forward in reassessing the de la Courts as important and influential thinkers in their own right. The book provides an extensive contextualization of their work against its political and intellectual background [...]." – Freya Sierhuis, in: Renaissance Quarterly 65/3 (Fall 2012), pp. 927-929
"Weststeijn’s timely study, [...] marks a major step forward in reassessing the de la Courts as important and influential thinkers in their own right. The book provides an extensive contextualization of their work against its political and intellectual background [...]." – Freya Sierhuis, in: Renaissance Quarterly 65/3 (Fall 2012), pp. 927-929
Acknowledgment
Introduction
1. THE MAKING OF AN OEUVRE
A Humanist Education
The Dutch Debate
The Making of an Oeuvre
Conclusion: Politics as a Ballgame
2. THE RHETORIC OF THE MARKET
Persuading the Passions
In the Public Arena: Rhetoric in Action
Fables and Frankness
Conclusion: The Rhetoric of the Market
3. WISE MERCHANTS
Hobbes and the Foundation of the Commonwealth
Citizenship in Theory and Practice
The Ethics of Self-Interest
Representing the Wise Merchant
Conclusion: Commercial Citizenship in Perspective
4. THE COMMERCIAL COMMONWEALTH
The Batavian Athens
The Politics of Free Trade
Monarchy Dethroned
Towards a Merchant Democracy
Conclusion: The Radical Republic
5. CONCORD AND TOLERATION
The Erasmian Moment
The Relation between Church and State
Toleration: Pluralism for the Sake of Unity
Epilogue: From Freedom of Religion to Freedom of Speech?
CONCLUSION
The Brothers De la Court and the Commercial Republican Tradition
Bibliography
Index
Introduction
1. THE MAKING OF AN OEUVRE
A Humanist Education
The Dutch Debate
The Making of an Oeuvre
Conclusion: Politics as a Ballgame
2. THE RHETORIC OF THE MARKET
Persuading the Passions
In the Public Arena: Rhetoric in Action
Fables and Frankness
Conclusion: The Rhetoric of the Market
3. WISE MERCHANTS
Hobbes and the Foundation of the Commonwealth
Citizenship in Theory and Practice
The Ethics of Self-Interest
Representing the Wise Merchant
Conclusion: Commercial Citizenship in Perspective
4. THE COMMERCIAL COMMONWEALTH
The Batavian Athens
The Politics of Free Trade
Monarchy Dethroned
Towards a Merchant Democracy
Conclusion: The Radical Republic
5. CONCORD AND TOLERATION
The Erasmian Moment
The Relation between Church and State
Toleration: Pluralism for the Sake of Unity
Epilogue: From Freedom of Religion to Freedom of Speech?
CONCLUSION
The Brothers De la Court and the Commercial Republican Tradition
Bibliography
Index
All those interested in the history of early modern Europe, Dutch history, intellectual history and the history of political thought.