http://worldcat.org/entity/work/id/1652864

Examination of the nature of the state

"The aim of this treatise has been the construction of a true system of political philosophy, the determination of the ultimate nature of the State and the grounds upon which its authority may be justified. Philosophy has been defined as a criticism of categories, and thus, in the present work, the task has been to subject the principal terms and concepts of political science to as careful an examination, and as rigid a definition, as is possible. Beyond all previous periods, the present century has been prolific in the creation of new and complex political conditions. With the appearance of the modern constitutional State with its functions and organization reduced to definite written statement, with the formation of the greatest variety of federal unions between States formerly independent, with the rise of international relations into technical definiteness, with the clearer distinction between public and private rights, between moral and civic obligations,-with all these new phases of political life, problems in theory have arisen, which require for their solution the keenest of philosophical analysis, and the highest degree of accuracy in the application of the terms used. It is, therefore, with the greatest diffidence that the present work is offered as an attempt to afford some slight assistance in this direction. By no one better than by the author, is it appreciated that deficiencies may appear, and that his work will be subject to criticism from many sides. From the nature of the case, this must be so, where, as in the following pages, positions have been assumed that vary so widely from those held by other writers. Lying, as this inquiry does, within the field of pure political speculation, the introduction of historical or descriptive matter has not been necessary, except for purposes of explanation and illustration. The only departures from this have been in the treatment of the Composite State, where the importance and complexity of the subject seemed to demand a somewhat particular description, and in the last chapter, where have been considered some of the political tendencies and problems apparent in modern life. With the Art of Government, or Politics properly so called, there has likewise been no concern"--Preface. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved).

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