Natural Rights Theories: Their Origin and Development

by Richard Tuck

Book Overview

This book shows how political argument in terms of rights and natural rights began in medieval Europe, and how the theory of natural rights was developed in the seventeenth century after a period of neglect in the Renaissance. Dr Tuck provides a new understanding of the importance of Jean Gerson in the formation of the theories, and of Hugo Grotius in their development; he also restores the Englishman John Selden's ideas to the prominence they once...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0521285097
• ISBN13: 9780521285094
• Release Date: January 1982
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 196 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Natural Rights Theories for Grown-Ups

This book is a scholarly masterpiece. It surveys the history of European political philosophy from the High Middle Ages down through the seventeenth century, with particular emphasis on how "natural rights" emerged from the more general theory of Natural Law. It is a fascinating process, particularly as to the definition of "right" in this context: how can an individual have rights that are not granted by the State and can be asserted against the State? This is certainly not an easy book to read, particularly because it presupposes some familiarity with a wide range of authors -- mainly political philosophers such as Francisco Suarez and Hugo Grotius -- that are no longer widely read. On the other hand, Tuck's exposition is meticulously clear, so readers who have the required familiarity will be rewarded with a series of wonderful insights into the development of modern human rights. Before I read this book, it was regularly recommended to me, by scholars whom I regard as authoritative, as among the best ever written on early modern political philosophy. I am happy to recommend it in return.