Embargoed Access
William Temple’s political and economic thought : a restoration view of consequences of human nature, 1660–1699
Loading...
Files
Embargoed until 2026
License
Access Rights
Cadmus Permanent Link
Full-text via DOI
ISBN
ISSN
Issue Date
Type of Publication
Keyword(s)
Other Topic(s)
EUI Research Cluster(s)
Initial version
Published version
Succeeding version
Preceding version
Published version part
Earlier different version
Initial format
Author(s)
Citation
Florence : European University Institute, 2022
EUI; HEC; PhD Thesis
Cite
HAAVISTO, Juha Oskari, William Temple’s political and economic thought : a restoration view of consequences of human nature, 1660–1699, Florence : European University Institute, 2022, EUI, HEC, PhD Thesis - https://hdl.handle.net/1814/74187
Abstract
This thesis focuses on the political and economic thought the seventeenth century diplomat and author William Temple (1628–1699). His works have previously been analysed mainly from the point of view of literary studies, diplomatic history. What is missing is a work dissecting his views on human nature and the consequences of that view on his political and economic thought. Using Temple’s published works as my sources, my aim is to show what Temple was trying to do with his views of human nature in particular, and how these views affected his political and economic perspectives. This thesis shows, that Temple was trying to convince not only of political elite but also the general public. This thesis is structured around two specific research questions: 1) which elements make up Temple’s political and economic ideas? and 2) what was Temple trying to with his ideas of human nature and how did it affect his political and economic thought? I have chosen to answer these questions with two independent but intertwined themes: 1) Temple’s view of human nature and 2) the consequences of human nature unto his political and economic thought. Both themes break into smaller categories which are analysed as their own entities. My main aim is to show that Temple maintained that due to human nature change was inevitable, and he tried to find ways to support and defend the existing society but also prepare it for change. As a result Temple tried to not only to manage and control change but also to embrace change. In the political sphere he wished to establish and maintain a structure that allowed people to act on policy according to their motivations, but ensure that structures themselves would remain untouched. He used the sphere of economy in two different manners: it was to accumulate wealth for polity but also to serve as a diversion from political activity.
Table of Contents
Additional Information
Defence date: 14 February 2022
Examining Board: Professor Ann Thomson (EUI) ; Professor Regina Grafe (EUI) ; Professor Charles-Édouard Levillain (Université Paris Diderot) ; Professor Philipp R. Rössner (University of Manchester)
Examining Board: Professor Ann Thomson (EUI) ; Professor Regina Grafe (EUI) ; Professor Charles-Édouard Levillain (Université Paris Diderot) ; Professor Philipp R. Rössner (University of Manchester)