Product Description

No other series of classic texts achieves the editorial standard of the Norton Critical Editions. Each volume combines the most authoritative text available with contextual and critical materials that bring the work to life for students. Careful editing, first-rate translation, thorough explanatory annotations, chronologies, and selected bibliographies make each text accessible to students while encouraging in-depth study. Each volume in the series is printed on acid-free paper, and every text remains in print. Norton Critical Editions are the choice of excellence for scholarship for students at more than 2,500 colleges and universities worldwide.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #65319 in Books
• Published on: 2005-05-17
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 448 pages

About the Author
Paul E. Sigmund is Professor of Politics at Princeton University. He is the author of numerous books, including The Ideologies of the Developing Nations, Natural Law in Political Thought, The Overthrow of Allende and the Politics of Chile, and Liberation Theology at the Crossroads. He is the translator and editor of the Norton Critical Edition of St. Thomas Aquinas on Politics and Ethics.

Customer Reviews

He defines what it means to be civilized!
John Locke has more influence on Western political culture than just providing Jefferson with his ideas and words for the Declaration of independence. Through his writings, particularly through his Second Treatise and Social Contract, he defines what it means to be civilized.

Combatants and non-combatants, criminals and soldiers, he presents a clarity that is missing in today's political world. If only our political leaders, and members of the press would read Locke . . there would be less ambiguity on who is and who is not deserving of our attention. As an example, non-combatants have never given their permission to be a potential target, and anyone not respecting this fact is a criminal. Period.

Some of his writings may no longer be relevant, such as his arguments against divine rights of kings, and he may be too idealistic in his expectations that people will only take what they need, but he was writing over 300 years ago, within a political climate quite different than at the present time, and at least some of his remarks should be placed in this perspective.

A Table of Contents would be helpful
Locke's work remains of enduring value and need not be described further. The accompanying academic writings are incisive and well-respected. They provide a variety of perspectives from different theoretical biases. For the budding philosophy student or seasoned appellate counsel, this comprehensive work offers the solid base for a mature appreciation of Locke's accomplishments and weaknesses.

That said, the book suffers from two grievous flaws. First, the font is exceptionally small and I had to resort to my 1.75 glasses. Second, and more damning -- especially for a compendium, there is no table of contents. This reflects poorly upon the publisher. For those reasons, I knock off the stars.

Content - 5 stars
Presentation - 2 stars