Constant’s Principles of Politics

This is a Reading List based upon a Liberty Fund Conference on “Liberty and Responsibility in the Thought of Benjamin Constant.”

Liberty and Responsibility in the Thought of Benjamin Constant

Guide to the Readings

Edition used:

• Benjamin Constant, Principles of Politics Applicable to a all Governments, trans. Dennis O’Keeffe, ed. Etienne Hofmann, Introduction by Nicholas Capaldi (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2003).

See also:

• Collections:19th Century French Liberalism
• Benjamin Constant
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Session I: The General Will: A Critique of Rousseau.

Principles of Politics Applicable to All Governments

• Book I: On Received Ideas About the Scope of Political Authority, pp. 1-28
• Book II: On the Principles to Replace Received Ideas On the Extent of Political Authority pp. 29-43
• Additions to the Work Entitled Principles of Politics Applicable to All Governments, pp. 430-433 and 442

Session II: Freedom of Thought and Religion and Legal Safeguards Thereof.

Principles of Politics Applicable to All Government

• Book VII: On Freedom of Thought, pp. 101-27
• Book VIII: On Religious Freedom pp. 129-47
• Book IX: On Legal Safeguards pp. 149-162
• Book XVII: On the True Principles of Freedom pp. 383-93
• Book XVIII: On the Duties of Individuals to Political Authority. Chapter Five: Continuation of the Same Subject (On the Duties of Enlightened Men During Revolutions) pp. 415-18, 495

Session III: Politics, Ancient and Modern.

Politics Applicable to All Governments

• Book XVI: On Political Authority In the Ancient World pp. 349-380

Session IV: Government and Property.

Politics Applicable to All Governments

• Book X: On the Action of Government With Regard to Property pp. 163-202

Session V: On the Duties of Individuals to Political Authority.

Politics Applicable to All Governments

• Book XVIII: On the Duties of Individuals to Political Authority pp. 395-423

Session VI: General Discussion.