Return to the “Foundations” of Quentin Skinner

Abstract

This article provides a brief analysis of the compilation “Rethinking the Foundations of Modern Political Thought”, which under the editorship of Annabel Brett and James Tully, represents an attempt to reconsider the original work of Quentin Skinner “The Foundations of Modern Political Thought”. The authors of the compilation examine such fundamental topics as the context of Q. Skinner’s “Foundations’, his “linguistic” philosophy, rhetoric, late scholastics; upon the questions on Hobbs and democracy. In conclusion, analysis is conducted on this attempt to “reconsider” the ideas and views of Skinner, as well as his response to the remarks. The goal of this article consists in examination of the main theses and criticism of the authors of the compilation. The need for such review is substantiated by the fact that the Cambridge School of Intellectual History gains more relevance for the Russian humanities. For the Russian political science, “Rethinking of the Foundations” remains an important and untranslated source for broader understanding of the Cambridge School of Intellectual History. The author of the article attempts to partially fulfill this gap.