II. THEORIES OF GOVERNMENT IN THE RENAISSANCE
BY PROFESSOR O. M. W. SPRAGUE
AVERY small number of books on political and social subjects have exerted a profound and continuous influence both upon the development of thought and upon the determination of the policies adopted regarding public questions. Aristotle’s “Politics” and Adam Smith’s “Wealth of Nations”〖Harvard Classics, x, 9ff.〗 are notable works belonging to this exceptionally distinguished group. A much greater number of political writings had a potent influence at the time of their composition but now possess little other than historical significance.
Among such works may be mentioned Luther’s “Address to the German Nobility” and “Concerning Christian Liberty,”〖H. C., xxxvi, 263ff., 336ff.〗 and Rousseau’s “Social Contract.” Machiavelli’s “Prince”〖H. C., xxxvi, 7ff.〗 and More’s “Utopia”〖H. C., xxxvi, 135ff.〗 do not fall exactly within either of these categories. They were not the starting points from which great and fruitful advance in knowledge has been made, and at no time have they been powerful factors in determining the legislation or policy of any nation. Both are indeed highly significant and characteristic products of the age in which they were written; compared with the writings of Luther, they were immensely less influential in shaping contemporary opinion; but they are quite as representative of the thought of the time and so possess great historic interest. Moreover, although the specific conclusions of Machiavelli and of More have never been followed closely in practice, they do exemplify in their work the two strikingly different attitudes, one or the other of which invariably appears in the methods and conclusions of writers upon political and social problems.