John Locke, the English philosopher, was born in 1632 in the parish of Wrington. He lived through a series of tumultuous events in England which had a significant effect on the British monarchy.
The English Revolution began in 1640 when Parliament challenged the power of Charles I. His trial and execution in 1649 paved the way for the republican Commonwealth and its constituents, the Rump Parliament, Oliver Cromwell, and the Protectorate. The monarchy was restored in 1660 under the leadership of Charles II
The Glorious Revolution of 1688 saw Parliament at odds with the monarch, yet again. With their support, Dutch stadtholder William of Orange removed James II from the throne, effectively ending the reign of the Stewarts.
It is unclear which event truly motivated Locke, but shortly after the Glorious Revolution he anonymously published his famous work, the Two Treatises of Government. The first book refuted a widely held theory of society and government known as Patriarchalism. In the second, he expounds his own views on nature, society and government.
According to Locke, mankind in a natural state are rational beings. Society and government are structures formed to protect natural rights and mediate disputes. Therefore, a government that doesn't fulfill its duties can and should be overthrown by the governed. These theories heavily influenced the course of American history due to their impact on the American Revolution, making Locke a philosopher who affected history.
Commonwealth Book Publishers of Virginia is a publisher and book publishing service with a particular emphasis on the connection between philosophical thought and the course of human events.
The first of the three figures who so succinctly conveys Commonwealth Book Publishers of Virginia's approach to history is the famous statesman Thomas Jefferson. He played a pivotal role in American history for his authorship of the Declaration of Independence and subsequent introduction of the concept of inherent rights into the American political vernacular.
Jefferson went on to serve as Minister to France, Secretary of State, Vice President, and President. He was responsible for the Louisiana Purchase and the expedition of Lewis and Clark into the new land. Jefferson also played a significant role in the design and formation of the University of Virginia.
Many biographies fail to adequately account for the sources of Jefferson's inspiration. His educational background exposed him to the work of British philosopher John Locke whose thoughts on government and society likely had a major impact on a young Jefferson.
Through his actions, Jefferson brought philosophical thought into the framework of history, thereby intertwining the depth of human thought with the march of human events.
Commonwealth Book Publishers of Virginia is a book retailer and book publishing service with a particular yen for works that reveal the interdependence of history, philosophy, and art. We invite authors to submit works for review and possible inclusion into our specialized book list.
Avid history readers and writers alike have three questions when they come across our website. They wonder who we are, what factors elevate us from the pack, and why we chose three specific historical figures to represent our motto, "Where History, Philosophy, and Art Meet."
Commonwealth Book Publishers of Virginia is a well known publisher and book publishing service that specializes in memoirs and the study of American history. We manage every aspect of editing and publishing the works we choose for inclusion into our repertoire.
Though a book is not revealed by its cover, a publisher is judged by what he chooses to produce. We do not have an allegiance to a particular location or era in the historical accounts we choose to convey. Instead, we select books that exemplify our theory that the course of human events is closely intertwined with and shaped by the ideals and thoughts of contemporary philosophy and art.
Thomas Jefferson, John Locke, and Charles Willson Peale are prime examples of this line of reasoning and, for that, their beaming portraits grace our website. We hope the reader is influenced to see history in a new light through our book selection.
Commonwealth Book Publishers of Virginia is constantly looking for authors and titles to grace our online bookshelves. Suggestions from history buffs and submissions from authors can help us achieve our goal.
