Philosophy, The Federalist, and the Constitution
Author Description
In 1787, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison wrote "The Federalist" to defend and rally support for the ratification of the Constitution. In "Philosophy, 'The Federalist', and the Constitution", Morton White presents a comprehensive analysis of the major philosophical ideas in "The Federalist". Using the tools of philosophy and intellectual history, White extracts and examines the interlocking theory of knowledge, theory of history, psychology, metaphysics, theory of action, and ethics used by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay in their defense of the Constitution and accepted by other founding fathers. A thorough comprehension of these ideas, White maintains, it is necessary if we are to understand fully "The Federalist" itself. "Philosophy, 'The Federalist', and the Constitution" provides a unique and penetrating view of the beliefs of those who helped launch the American republic. -- From publisher's description.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This work investigates the underlying philosophical framework that informed the arguments presented by the authors of The Federalist in their defense of the United States Constitution. Morton White, a distinguished philosopher and historian, utilizes the methodologies of intellectual history to deconstruct the complex belief systems held by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. By examining their writings through the lens of epistemology, psychology, and ethics, White argues that these foundational documents are rooted in a coherent, albeit implicit, philosophical system that requires rigorous analysis to be fully understood.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- An analysis of the theory of knowledge and history employed by the Founding Fathers.
- A breakdown of the psychological and metaphysical assumptions present in the ratification debates.
- An examination of the theory of action and ethics that guided the creation of the American republic.
- A scholarly synthesis of intellectual history applied to 18th-century political documents.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and historians frequently cite this text as a foundational study for understanding the intellectual climate of the American founding. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which requires a strong background in philosophical terminology to fully grasp the author's arguments.
Page Count:
273
Publication Date:
1987-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0195959485
ISBN-13:
9780195959482
Philosophy
History
Geschichte
Constitutional Law
Verfassung
United States
The Federalist
American History
Constitutional History
Federalist
Community Tags
Similar Books
