A Defence of Liberty Against Tyrants
"A Defence of Liberty Against Tyrants" is a foundational treatise of early modern political philosophy that explores the limits of monarchical power and the rights of the governed. Attributed to the pseudonym Junius Brutus, this influential work addresses the crucial question of whether subjects are bound to obey a ruler who commands something contrary to the law of God or the well-being of the state. It develops the concept of a double covenant-one between God, the king, and the people, and another between the king and the people-to argue that royal authority is conditional rather than absolute.
The text is a cornerstone of resistance theory, asserting that when a sovereign becomes a tyrant and violates the fundamental laws of the land, the people have a legitimate right to resist. This edition features an insightful introduction by Harold J. Laski, which situates the work within its historical context and highlights its profound influence on the evolution of constitutionalism and the social contract. "A Defence of Liberty Against Tyrants" remains an essential resource for those interested in the historical struggle for religious and civil liberties, providing a rigorous intellectual framework for the protection of freedom against arbitrary rule.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
Customer Reviews
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
