This book offers a fresh examination of key seventeenth-century writers--notably Andrew Marvell, Katherine Philips and John Milton--in the context of their common interest in the republican, libertarian and oppositional potential of the philosophical tradition of Stoicism. As a study of the rhetorical and philosophical bases of English neostoicism, this book sketches an important new map of political discourse in the civil war period.

This 1998 book examines key seventeenth-century writers in the context of their common interest in the philosophical tradition of Stoicism.

This book uniquely recovers and assesses Stoic political thought by tracking its uptake into Western modernity and exploring the extent of its impact. Classical Stoicism has lately seen a popular resurgence inspiring self-help books and therapeutic treatments for anxiety and depression. As a scholarly source for the Western political tradition, it is even more important. Yet, as A.A. Long once observed: “[o]f all the ancient philosophies, Stoicism has probably had the most diffused” yet least “adequately acknowledged influence on Western thought.” This close textual study not only provides the first systematic study of the political content of Stoic thought but also establishes the hitherto under-appreciated influence of classical Stoicism on the political thought of the long eighteenth century and beyond in Europe and particularly Britain. The Stoic ideas upon which we focus include their cosmopolitanism, their contribution to sociability and self-interest debates, their influence on modern feminism and utilitarianism, and their prefiguration of modern conceptions of personal rights.

John Milton (1608-1674) was not just an iconic English poet but also a profound thinker and political commentator. As a devout Reformed Christian and fervent libertarian, Milton’s works championed individual freedom, truth, and resistance against tyranny and religious oppression. This modernized reader brings together twenty-five of Milton’s seminal philosophical and political treatises, thoughtfully updated for contemporary readers. Key works include: · On England's Reformation: A critique of religious and political corruption, advocating for reform based on liberty and conscience. · On Prelatical Episcopacy: A challenge to ecclesiastical hierarchy and political ambition, promoting egalitarian church governance. · Areopagitica: A passionate defense of free speech and publication, opposing censorship in favor of open dialogue and diverse voices. · The Defense of 'Smectymnuus': An assertion of freedom of expression and individual conscience amid civil war. · On Education: An ahead-of-its-time vision for holistic education, emphasizing virtue, wisdom, and intellectual freedom. · Revisiting Divorce Doctrine and Discipline: A provocative challenge to societal norms and religious orthodoxy regarding marriage and personal autonomy. · Kings and Magistrates and Their Accountability: A defense of republican government and the right to depose tyrannical rulers, influencing later political thought. · Iconoclastes: A repudiation of monarchical myths, defending the Parliamentary cause against royalist propaganda. · The Second Defense of the English People: A robust justification of the regicide of Charles I, defending the Commonwealth’s legitimacy and principles. Milton’s eloquence and conviction resonate through these modernized texts, making them accessible to today’s readers while preserving their original fervor and insight. Ideal for scholars, students, and anyone interested in the intersections of literature, philosophy, and politics, this collection highlights Milton's enduring relevance in the ongoing discourse on liberty, governance, and human rights.

Although Milton wrote several poems and sonnets in his earlier career, he became known as a revolutionary and passionate political activist, beginning his political career with the pamphlets that he wrote on the current politics of his time, defending antimonarchical rule and republicanism, giving particular attention to the religious and civil liberties of the people and the necessity of a free commonwealth. However, following the restoration of monarchy, he had to stop writing political pamphlets because, as a republican and defender of regicide, Milton was in danger, and the new regime made it impossible for him to express his political thoughts safely. He embarked on a literary project which included his major poetical works, Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes. Considering his earlier reputation as an ardent republican, leading an active political life, it can be stated that Milton could not detach himself from the political controversies of his time. Hence, he wrote Paradise Lost as a political poem in which he reflected and inserted his political views in an allegorical manner. This book re-reads Miltons Paradise Lost in the light of his political views as reflected in his earlier political pamphlets. It argues that, using literature as a medium of expression, Milton intentionally wrote Paradise Lost as a political poem, in which, by re-writing the Biblical story of the Creation, the fall of Satan and the fall of Adam and Eve, he created a political subtext which reflected the social and political panorama of England of his time.