Philosophy, The Federalist, and the Constitution / Morton White.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

White, Morton, 1917-2016, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Federalist.

Political science--United States--History.

Political science.

Constitutional history--United States.

Constitutional history.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xi,273p.)

Edition:

New Ed

Place of Publication:

Oxford, [England] ; New York, New York : Oxford University Press, 1987.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This book presents the first synoptic view of the major philosophical ideas in "The Federalist". Using the tools of philosophy and intellectual history, it examines the theories and disciplines used in different degrees by the founding fathers in defence of the constitution.

In 1787, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison wrote The Federalist to rally support for the ratification of the Constitution of the United States. In spite of the pragmatic intentions of the authors, they often implicitly expressed themselves in philosophical language, drawing from the major philosophers of their day, notably Locke and Hume. In this book, Morton White presents the first synoptic view of the major philosopical ideas in The Federalist. Using the tools of philosophy and intellectual history, he examines the theories and disciplines used in different degrees by the founding fathers in defence of the Constitution. 'Thoroughly researched and carefully argued; this is an important book.'The Library Journal

Contents:

Intro

Contents

PART I. INTRODUCTION

1. The Role of Philosophy in The Federalist

PART II. THE DIFFERENT LEGACIES OF LOCKE AND HUME

2. Hume's Experience and Locke's Reason

Hume on Reason and Experience in Science

Hume vs. Locke on Morality as a Demonstrative Science

PART III. THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE

3. Using Abstract Reason in Morals and Politics

Natural Law and Natural Rights: Publius's Substantive Moral Philosophy

Rationalism in Publius's Theory of Ethical Knowledge

Rationalism in Publius's Theory of Political Knowledge

4. Using Experience and History in Politics

Reason Without Rationalism in Politics

Reason, Long Experience, and Short Experience

Experience, History, and Political Science

PART IV. PHILOSOPHY OF HISTORY

5. The Causes of Factions and the Question of Economic Determinism

Factions in Madison's "Philosophy of History

Was Madison an Economic Determinist?

Madison and Hume on the Method of Supporting a Theory of Factions

Madison's and Hume's Substantive Views on Factions

The Absence of "Opinion" in Madison's Definition of "Faction

On the Value of Reading Hume and Other Writings of Madison

Madison: No Economic Interpreter of History and No Economic Determinist

PART V. PSYCHOLOGY

6. The Essence of Ideal Man and the Nature of Real Men

Publius's Study of Human Nature: The Empirical Psychological Component

Publius's Study of Human Nature: The A Priori Moral Component

Two Kinds of Analysis

Descriptive vs. Moral Judgment of Men and Their Actions

Realism and Pessimism

Man as a Knave in Politics

Concluding Remarks

7. Reason, Passion, and Interest

Reason as a Motive

Passions and Interests as Motives

Bishop Butler on Passion and Interest: A Digression

Passions and Interests as Distinguishable Motives of Factions

Recapitulation.

8. On the Strength of Different Motives

Reason as a Weak Motive that Impels Few Men

The Passions and Interests of an Individual

The Passions and Interests of a Group

The Theory of Motivation

PART VI. THEORY OF ACTION AND METAPHYSICS

9. Motive, Opportunity, and Action: The Principle of Causality at Work

The Motives and Opportunities of Factions

The Necessary and Sufficient Conditions for a Group's Action, for an Individual's Action, and for the Behavior of Other Objects

The Defects of Pure Democracy: The Structure of Madison's Argument

The Advantages of a Republic: The Structure of Madison's Argument

The Motives and Opportunities of Representative Bodies

Motive, Opportunity, and the Principle of Causality

10. Combining and Separating Motives and Opportunities

Combining the Motives and Opportunities of a United America

Hamilton on Separating the Motives and Opportunities of Factions

Separation of Powers, Federalism, Checks and Balances: Their Connections with Publius's Theory of Action

Two Ways of Denying Opportunity: Constitutional and Nonconstitutional

Tyranny, Slavery, and Irony

PART VII. ETHICS

11. The Nonnaturalistic Ethics of Natural Rights

PART VIII. A SUMMARY VIEW

12. A Philosophical Map of The Federalist

The Role of Normative Moral Philosophy in Publius's Argument

Publius's Theory of Ethical Knowledge and His Theory of Experimental Knowledge

The Main Experimental Theses of The Federalist From a Philosophical Point of View

The Technological Component of The Federalist

The Role of Metaphysics and Theology in The Federalist

13. The Federalist and the Declaration of Independence Compared

The Moral Argument of the Declaration and that of The Federalist

Self-evident Truths, True Interests, and the Opportunities of Dictators.

Epistemological Dualism and Madison's Concern for the Protection of Natural Rights

Epistemological Dualism and Hamilton's Concern for the Public Good

Final Remarks

Notes

Index

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

S

T

U

V

W.

Notes:

Includes index.

Description based on print version record.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

1-280-52414-6

9786610524143

0-19-536307-8

OCLC:

960165765