Table of Contents

Introduction; 1. The character and work of the society of Jesus; 2. The society's organizational ideas; 3. The church, the society and heresy; 4. Jesuit reason of state and religious uniformity; 5. Jesuit reason of state and Fides; 6. Reason of state, prudence and the academic curriculum; 7. The theory of political authority; 8. Limited government, compacts and the states of nature; 9. The theory of law; 10. The common good and individual rights; 11. Tyrannicide, the oath of allegiance controversy and the assassination of Henri IV; 12. The Papal Potestas Indirecta.

Promotional Information

Pioneering study of Jesuit thinking exploring the society's position on key questions of political thought.

About the Author

Harro Hopfl is one of the leading historians of ideas writing in Britain today.

Reviews

From the hardback review: 'An important work of scholarship.' The Universe From the hardback review: '... a remarkable work of intellectual history.' Political Studies Review From the hardback review: '... a lively and masterful survey of Jesuit political thought ... Hopfl does an excellent job as an historian ...' The Heythrop Journal From the hardback review: 'Harro Hopfl's long-awaited book sets itself an ambitious task ... Hopfl's project is to chartacterize the political thinking of the society of Jesus as a whole ... In terms of substantive analysis, Hopfl's is by far the best treatment available in English of the more directly political side of Jesuit writing ... the appearance of such an intelligent, thought-provoking, refreshingly idiosyncratic but still thorough treatment of a neglected subject is enormously to be welcomed.' History of Political Thought From the hardback review: '... meticulously researched, scholarly work, written with suavity and flair, dealing carefully with much of the huge amount of material which awaits the researcher in this field.' English Historical Review