Introduction to Political Thinkers

Introduction to Political Thinkers has established itself as the concise and inexpensive text for introductory political theory courses. Based on the more comprehensive classic Great Political Thinkers, this second edition condenses Alan Ebenstein’s well-known work by focusing on twelve of history’s most influential political thinkers: Plato, Aristotle, St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Mill, Marx, Hayek, and Rawls.

These great political thinkers explore in their writings the fundamental question of how a society meets the needs of its citizens. Each selection of original work is accompanied by Ebenstein’s scholarly commentary, which provides the reader with important background information, helpful interpretation, and key critical analysis.

This second edition expands on the scholarship of the first edition by adding key twentieth-century political thinker Fredrich Hayek, Ebenstein’s inclusion of revised chapters on Mill and Rawls, as well as updated bibliographical notes improves upon a text already invaluable for its scholarly introduction to history’s most significant political theorists.

Contents: 1. Plato. 2. Aristotle. 3. St. Augustine of Hippo. 4. St. Thomas Aquinas. 5. Machiavelli. 6. Hobbes. 7. Locke. 8. Rousseau. 9. Mill. 10. Marx. 11. Rawls. 12. Hayek.