The Politics of Johannes Althusius
An abridged translation of the Third Edition of
POLITICA METHODICE DIGESTA,
ATQUE EXEMPLIS SACRIS
ET PROFANIS ILLUSTRATA
And including the Prefaces to the First and Third Editions
Translated, with an Introduction by FREDERICK S. CARNEY
Preface by Carl J. Friedrich
POLITICA METHODICE DIGESTA,
ATQUE EXEMPLIS SACRIS
ET PROFANIS ILLUSTRATA
And including the Prefaces to the First and Third Editions
Translated, with an Introduction by FREDERICK S. CARNEY
Preface by Carl J. Friedrich
BEACON PRESS
BOSTON
Copyright © 1964 by Frederick S. Carney
Library of Congress catalogue card number: 64-20498
Published simultaneously in Canada by S. J. Reginald Saunders and Co., Ltd., Toronto
All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America
CONTENTS
Preface by Carl J. Friedrich page vii Translator's Introduction xiiiThe New Interest in the Political Theory of Althusius.
The Basic Structure of His Thought.
His Major Literary Sources.
Some Notes on This Translation
Politics Methodically Set Forth, and Illustrated with Sacred and Profane Examples
PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION (1603) 1 PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION (1614) 8 I THE GENERAL ELEMENTS OF POLITICS 12 II-III THE FAMILY 22 IV THE COLLEGIUM 28 V-VI THE CITY 34 VII-VIII THE PROVINCE 46 IX POLITICAL SOVEREIGNTY, AND ECCLESIASTICAL COMMUNICATION 61 X-XVII SECULAR COMMUNICATION 74 XVIII THE EPHORS AND THEIR DUTIES 87 XIX-XX THE CONSTITUTING OF THE SUPREME MAGISTRATE 115 XXI-XXVII POLITICAL PRUDENCE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE COMMONWEALTH 130 XXVIII ECCLESIASTICAL ADMINISTRATION 154 XXIX-XXXVII SECULAR ADMINISTRATION 170 XXXVIII TYRANNY AND ITS REMEDIES 185 XXXIX TYPES OF SUPREME MAGISTRATE 195Appendices
I COLLATION OF THIS TRANSLATION WITH THE 1614 EDITION 205 II LIST OF ALTHUSIUS' LITERARY SOURCES REFERRED TO IN THIS TRANSLATION 209 III SELECT LIST OF RECENT WRITINGS ON ALTHUSIUS 220 INDEX 223