An Essay on the First Principles of Government: And on the Nature of Political, Civil, and Religious Liberty

Joseph Priestley

doi:10.1017/CBO9781107300187

In this 1768 publication, Joseph Priestley (1733–1804) expounds his political philosophy, revealed in part through his earlier writings on education and theology. While teaching at the dissenting academy at Warrington, he had argued against a scheme of national education in his Essay on a Course of Liberal Education (1765), included and expanded on in his Miscellaneous Observations Relating to Education (1778), which has been reissued in this series. Here, he explains that freedoms of education and religion promote free discourse, which is essential for social progress. Such discourse is only possible when government protects both civil liberty, power over one's own actions, and political liberty, the right to vote and hold office. Although harshly criticised at first for its perceived attack on church and government authority, Priestley's work inspired later liberal political theorists, notably enthusing Jeremy Bentham with its incorporation of a principle of utility.

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-ii
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THE PREFACE
pp iii-vii
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Contents
pp viii-viii
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THE introduction—Of the first principle of government, and the nature of liberty
pp 1-14
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Part I - Of political liberty
pp 15-48
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Part II - Of civil liberty—Sect. I. Of the nature of civil liberty in general
pp 49-62
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Sect. II - In what manner an authoritative code of education would affect liberty, and social happiness
pp 62-104
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Sect. III - Of religious liberty and toleration
pp 104-126
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Part III - Of the progress of Societies towards a state of greater perfection, showing that it is retarded by encroachments of civil and religious liberty
pp 127-191
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An Essay on the First Principles of Government

And on the Nature of Political, Civil, and Religious Liberty

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-ii

THE PREFACE
pp iii-vii

Contents
pp viii-viii

THE introduction—Of the first principle of government, and the nature of liberty
pp 1-14

Part I - Of political liberty
pp 15-48

Part II - Of civil liberty—Sect. I. Of the nature of civil liberty in general
pp 49-62

Sect. II - In what manner an authoritative code of education would affect liberty, and social happiness
pp 62-104

Sect. III - Of religious liberty and toleration
pp 104-126

Part III - Of the progress of Societies towards a state of greater perfection, showing that it is retarded by encroachments of civil and religious liberty
pp 127-191

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An Essay on the First Principles of Government

And on the Nature of Political, Civil, and Religious Liberty

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