Thomas Jefferson: between liberalism and republicanism. The position of Hannah Arendt

Authors

  • Elisa Goyenechea Universidad Católica Argentina, Argentina

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46661/revintpensampolit.4097

Keywords:

Arendt, Jefferson, liberalism, republicanism, wards

Abstract

The paper examines Hannah Arendt’s interpretation of Thomas Jefferson’s political thought. First, we put forward the main arguments that place him within the framework of political liberalism. In this regard, his writings of the pre-revolutionary period allude to the ancient Saxon constitution and to the natural rights of John Locke. Second, we expose Hannah Arendt’s assessment of the American Revolution as a replica of classical republicanism, to the detriment of the thesis prevailing until 1960, which places it within the context of classical liberalism. We assert that she interprets T. Jefferson as representative of republicanism, highlighting in particular his thesis on the council system.

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References

Arendt, Hannah, "Never-Before-Published Hannah Arendt on what Freedom and Revolution Really Mean", New England Review, Volume 38, Number 2, 2017.

Arendt, Hannah, On Revolution (Introduction by Jonathan Schell), Penguin Books, New York, 2006.

Arendt, Hannah, The Human Condition (with an Introduction by Margaret Canovan), The University of Chicago Press, Chicago and London, 1978.

Robinson, Daniel N., "The Scottish Enlightenment and the American Founding”, The Monist, vol. 90, no. 2, 170-181.

Jefferson, Thomas, The Works of Thomas Jefferson, Federal Edition (New York and London, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1904-5). Vol. 12. [Online] available from http://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/808; accessed 13/2/2018.

Meacham, Jon, Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power, Random House, New York, 2012; cf. Part I, Chapter 3: "Roots of Revolution”; Part II, Chapter 9 and 10: "The Course of Human Events”, The Pull of Duty”. Maier, Pauline, American Scripture. Making the Declaration of Independence, Random House, New York, 1998.

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Published

2021-02-03

How to Cite

Goyenechea, E. . (2021). Thomas Jefferson: between liberalism and republicanism. The position of Hannah Arendt. International Journal of Political Thought, 13(1), 279–305. https://doi.org/10.46661/revintpensampolit.4097

Issue

Vol. 13 (2018): Volumen 13 (2018)

Section

Estudios Varios

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