The Unvarnished Doctrine: Locke, Liberalism and the American Revolution
Author(s): Steven M. Dworetz (Author)
Publisher: Duke University Press
Publication Date: 20 Dec. 1989
Language: English
Print length: 264 pages
ISBN-10: 0822309610
ISBN-13: 9780822309611
Book Description
In The Unvarnished Doctrine, Steven M. Dworetz addresses two critical issues in contemporary thinking on the American Revolution – the ideological character of this event, and, more specifically, the relevance of “America’s Philosopher, the Great Mr. Locke,” in this experience. Recent interpretations of the American revolution, particularly those of Bailyn and Pocock, have incorporated an understanding of Locke as the moral apologist of unlimited accumulation and the original ideological crusader for the “spirit of capitalism,” a view based largely on the work of theorists Leo Strauss and C. B. Macpherson. Drawing on an examination of sermons and tracts of the New England clergy, Dworetz argues that the colonists themselves did not hold this conception of Locke. Moreover, these ministers found an affinity with the principles of Locke’s theistic liberalism and derived a moral justification for revolution from those principles. The connection between Locke and colonial clergy, Dworetz maintains, constitutes a significant, radicalizing force in American revolutionary thought.
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Provocative and challenging, Dworetz’s argument is calculated to unsettle intellectual complacency and to prompt Americans to a new appreciation of the liberal philosophic foundations of liberal philosophy.”–Wilson Carey McWilliams, Rutgers University
“”The Unvarnished Doctrine” restores Lockean-liberal thought to its proper place as the dominant ideology of the American Revolution. In doing so, this excellent book challenges republican revisionism which either denies the significance of Locke’s liberalism or casts it as anti-revolutionary.” –Douglas Jaenicke,” Political Studies”
From the Back Cover
“Provocative and challenging, Dworetz’s argument is calculated to unsettle intellectual complacency and to prompt Americans to a new appreciation of the liberal philosophic foundations of liberal philosophy.”–Wilson Carey McWilliams, Rutgers University
“”The Unvarnished Doctrine” restores Lockean-liberal thought to its proper place as the dominant ideology of the American Revolution. In doing so, this excellent book challenges republican revisionism which either denies the significance of Locke’s liberalism or casts it as anti-revolutionary . . . .”–Douglas Jaenicke, “Political Studies”
“Dworetz has done a fine job of drawing attention to the interwoven political and theological issues that frame the American Revolution. . . . Readers of Dworetz’s effort will come away with renewed interest in American Revolutionary thought.”–John J. Holder, Jr., “Transactions of the Charles S. Peirce Society “”A splendid and lively . . . book.”–Issac Krammick, “Society “
About the Author
Steven M. Dwortez is Associate Professor of Political Science at Wheaton College, Norton, Massachusetts.
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