Commerce and character : the political economy of the Enlightenment and the American founding / edited by Steven Frankel and John Ray.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Frankel, Steven, 1968- editor.

Ray, John A., 1957- editor.

Series:

American political thought

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Political science--United States--History.

Political science.

Political science--Philosophy--History.

Lerner, Ralph.

Enlightenment--United States.

Enlightenment.

Capitalism--Political aspects--United States--History.

Capitalism.

United States--Politics and government--1789-1815.

United States.

Physical Description:

viii, 266 pages ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Lawrence, Kansas : University Press of Kansas, [2025]

Summary:

"Nine leading scholars explore some of the most important minds behind the new political economy of the American Founding and engage with the foundational work of Ralph Lerner. In his 1979 article, "Commerce and Character: The Anglo-American as New-Model Man," Ralph Lerner argued that the American Founders and the political theorists of the commercial republic were charting a new basis for society that broke with the "old order," which was "preoccupied with intangible goods to an extent we now hardly ever see. The king had his glory, the nobles their honor, the Christians their salvation, the citizens of pagan antiquity their ambition to outdo others in serving the public good." By contrast, the commercial republic was a regime based on the belief that human behavior is best understood as driven by physical wants and tangible goods. A government grounded on this understanding of humanity would be a more stable system and thus more conducive to human flourishing. Lerner's article thus interpreted the Founding as a revolution in political philosophy that must be understood against the backdrop of the Enlightenment. Commerce and Character brings together nine distinguished scholars who explore individual Enlightenment or American thinkers who made important philosophical or political contributions to the new political economy of modern republicanism. Each contributor uses Lerner's essay as the jumping-off point, and at the end, Lerner provides a detailed response to each of his interlocutors where he carefully examines each chapter and reconsiders his arguments a half century later"-- Provided by publisher.

"In his 1979 article, "Commerce and Character: The Anglo-American as New-Model Man," Ralph Lerner argued that the American Founders and the political theorists of the commercial republic were charting a new basis for society that broke with the "old order," which was "preoccupied with intangible goods to an extent we now hardly ever see. The king had his glory, the nobles their honor, the Christians their salvation, the citizens of pagan antiquity their ambition to outdo others in serving the public good." By contrast, the commercial republic was a regime based on the belief that human behavior is best understood as driven by physical wants and tangible goods. A government grounded on this understanding of humanity would be a more stable system and thus more conducive to human flourishing. Lerner's article thus interpreted the Founding as a revolution in political philosophy that has to be understood against the backdrop of the Enlightenment"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Commerce and character : the Anglo-American as new-model man / Steven Frankel and John Ray

Locke, Hume, and property : on the philosophical foundations of capitalism / Ralph Lerner

Montesquieu : commerce and character / Michael Zuckert

The commercial republic and Adam Smith's The theory of moral sentiments / Paul A. Rahe

Adam Smith, Alexis de Tocqueville, and American greatness / Ann Charney Colmo

"The masterpiece of policy of our century" : Rousseau's response to the Enlightenment / Ryan Patrick Hanley

Thomas Jefferson : commercial republican, Creole nationalist / Clifford Orwin

The good republican : Madison's model citizen / Peter S. Onuf

On the significance of Federalist 6 / Colleen A. Sheehan

Tocqueville on democracy and the commercial republic / Peter McNamara

Commerce and character revisited / John C. Koritansky.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Commerce and character

ISBN:

9780700638307

070063830X

9780700638314

0700638318

OCLC:

1463561666