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  3. Edinburgh Studies in Comparative Political Theory and Intellectual History

Challenging the ‘West versus the Rest’ binary that dominates CPT, this series provides a venue for historically informed scholarship and brings together authors who engage with intellectual history and the history of political thought. Books feature comparisons between Western and non-Western sources, while also retrieving and highlighting different strands within various traditions of political thinking, whether primarily viewed in religious (Christian, Islamic, Jewish, Hindu, etc.), civilizational (European, Asian, African, etc.) or historical/geographical terms. Books in the series are geared towards advanced students, academics, policy-makers and analysts, who apply comparative approaches and methods.

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2 results in Edinburgh Studies in Comparative Political Theory and Intellectual History

Moderate Liberalism and the Scottish Enlightenment
  • Montesquieu, Hume, Smith and Ferguson
  • Constantine Christos Vassiliou
  • Published by:
    Edinburgh University Press
    Published online:
    06 March 2025
    Print publication:
    31 July 2023
  • Moderate Liberalism and the Scottish Enlightenment responds to a perennial problem in political theory: how to balance commercial considerations with the public good. It investigates this dilemma through the lenses of Enlightenment thinkers whose liberal theories responded to the hazards of commercial innovation during capitalism's nascent stages. Vassiliou argues that Montesquieu, David Hume, Adam Smith, and Adam Ferguson represent a moderate perspective in foundational liberal thought, which emphasizes the critical importance of honour. He compares how their liberal theories uniquely channel human beings' desire for honour to nourish a sense of interpersonal magnanimity within an inward-looking, liberal commercial world. In an age of polarized extremes, we have witnessed restive democracies flirting with populist, illiberal responses for managing the hazards of capitalist innovation. Montesquieu and his Scottish counterparts' foundational liberal theories offer us more viable, middle-ground prescriptions which are sensitive to the emotional constitution of a liberal society.

Modern Philosopher Kings
  • Wisdom and Power in Politics
  • Haig Patapan
  • Published by:
    Edinburgh University Press
    Published online:
    01 March 2025
    Print publication:
    31 March 2023
  • Can wisdom and power, philosophy and politics be combined to secure justice? Or are there formidable tensions, even antagonism between them? Socrates presented the philosopher king as an aspiration, a remedy for the ills of the world. He also called it a paradox, a challenging and perplexing innovation. Ever since, the philosopher king has been an enduring and fascinating question as well as a political aspiration. Modern Philosopher Kings examines the philosopher king as a paradox and an ambitious modern project. Through a series of diverse studies ranging from the prophet, intellectual, artist, advisor, scientist and 'the people' it examines modern attempts to unite wisdom and power. In doing so it reveals the different ways and the extent to which wisdom can be empowered and power ennobled.