Banned Books

The first of Bacon’s writings on the nature of science and the scientific method. He also had a view of the unity of knowledge, both scientific and non-scientific.

A 1,000 page book which includes the original Chinese text, a translation, and commentaries.

This is Milton’s famous defense of freedom of speech and the press, in an edition based upon Sir Richard Jebb’s lectures at Cambridge in 1872, with extensive notes and commentaries. Mlton’s work was a protest against Parliament’s… more

The first of 3 plays Beaumarchais wrote about a master-servant relationship, Count Almaviva and Figaro, during the social upheavals on the eve of the French revolution.

Voltaire’s “philosophic tale” is a clever satire of France in the mid-18th century. He makes fun of religious intolerance, the destructiveness of war, and the foibles of mankind. He concludes with a plea that we should all “cultivate… more

This volume contains 2 of Spinoza’s most important political works, the Theologico-Political Treatise and the posthumous Political Treatise.

Vol. 2 of the 33 vol. Collected Works contains Part 1 of Mill’s Principles of Political Economy.

In the guise of a school textbook on sound Latin prose Erasmus is able to mix sound language teaching, homilies on Christian ethics, and social criticism of some of the injustices and follies of his day.

The Reformation scholar Desiderius Erasmus portrays Peace visiting to earth to deliver her verdict on the human race. She chastises kings and princes, church leaders, noblemen and ordinary soldiers alike for betraying their Christian… more

The Merchant of Venice famously depicts the bargain between Antonio and Shylock to secure a monetary loan with the promise of “a pound of flesh” if the loan is not repaid. In doing so, it explores the complex issues of religion,… more

Complicated, merry, and slightly mad, the convoluted disguises and secret identities of Twelfth Night capture the pains and comic madness of love. This edition comes from the 1916 Oxford University Press edition of all of Shakespeare… more

Shakespeare’s Macbeth explores questions of fate, free will, and tyranny. This edition comes from the 1916 Oxford University Press edition of all of Shakespeare’s plays and poems.

Shakespeare’s King Lear may be his greatest tragedy. It presents a dark picture of aging, of an uncaring universe, and the dangers of an unstable king struggling to understand his own power. This edition comes from the 1916 Oxford… more

The late 19th century Skeat edition with copious scholarly notes and a good introduction to the text. The Tales are in their original Middle English.

This is volume 3 from the Complete Works. It contains his piece on the Grandeur and Declension of the Roman Empire, a short Dialogue between Sylla and Eucrates, and the Persian Letters.

One of Kant’s most important philosophical works and one of the most important of the Enlightenment as well. In it he argues that the world that we know is structured by the way that we perceive and think about the world. Reason is… more

Dante’s masterwork is a 3 volume work written in Italian rather than Latin. Vol. 1 (Inferno (Hell) describes what happens to the souls of the wicked who are condemned to suffer the torments of Hell. Vol. 2 Purgatorio (Purgatory)… more

Hobbes’s translation of Homer’s epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey. The Iliad is about the warriors and heroes who are involved in the Trojan war, what happens to men in combat, and the consequences of pride, ambition, and failure.… more

Two of David Hume’s most important works of moral philosophy, epistemology, and psychology which together were supposed to make up Hume’s “science of man”. They are a revised version of his earlier work A Treatise of Human Nature… more

This is a 10 volume collection of Montaigne’s famous essays in the 17th century English translation by Charles Cotton.

Volume 2 of a 4 volume set of Machiavelli’s writings which contains a lengthy introduction on the life of Machiavelli, the History of Florence, The Prince, Discourses on Livy, and his letters and papers from his time as a diplomat.… more

A 12 volume set of Gibbon’s magisterial history of the end of the Roman Empire, one of the greatest works of history written during the Enlightenment.

Tradition holds that during the last decades of Muhammad’s life he received revelations from the angel Gabriel. Muhammad was instructed to repeat these revelations to his community as warnings or instructions from God. During his… more

A collection of 4 of the best known works about utopias: Rousseau’s Social Contract, More’s Utopia, Bacon’s New Atlantis, and Campanella’s City of the Sun.

The personification of Folly comes to earth to expose the follies, foibles, and failings of humans. Illustrated with 77 woodcuts by Hans Holbein.

in 1535 John Calvin published the initial version of the Institutes. The importance of the Institutes lies with its inclusive and systematic explication of Protestant doctrine. It forcefully presents the Protestants’ claim to teach… more

The 1909 edition of Hobbe’s best known work of political philosophy is the edition used by Michael Oakeshott in his discussion of Hobbe’s ideas in Hobbes on Civil Association (1937, 1975 Liberty Fund).

Erasmus’s very popular 16th century guide book on how to live a moral, Christian life while avoiding formal ritual and observances.

The second of 3 plays Beaumarchais wrote about a master-servant relationship, Count Almaviva and Figaro, during the social upheavals on the eve of the French revolution. In this play they become rivals for the affections of Suzanne.

A collection of three of Descatres philosophical works: the Discourse of Method, the Meditations, and selections from his Principles of Philosophy.

In The Natural History of Religion and in the Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion Hume provides a sustained philosophical and historical analysis of religion.

Part of a larger but incomplete magnum opus in which Bacon demonstrates the use of the scientific method to discover knowledge about the natural world. Many of the examples in this volume concern the nature of heat and energy.

Condorcet wrote this while in prison awaiting execution by the Jacobins. It is an optimistic view of the progress the human race will undergo when political and economic liberty are gradually introduced.

Vol. 1 - Treatise of Human Nature Bk 1; Vol. 2 - Treatise of Human Nature Bk 2 and 3; Vol. 3 - Essays Moral, Political and Literary; Vol. 4 An Inquiry Concerning the Human Understanding, An Inquiry Concerning the Principles of… more

A modern edition of the major poems of Milton. It contains the shorter poems, Paradise Lost and Regained, and Samson Agonistes.

Principles of Political Economy, with some of their Applications to Social Philosophy was published in 1848 in London and was republished with changes and updates a total of seven times in Mill’s lifetime. The edition presented here… more

This 1913 edition of Rousseau’s works includes the famous Social Contract as well as 3 discourses on Arts and Sciences, the Origin of Inequality, and Political Economy. Rousseau’s writings inspired liberals and non-liberals alike… more

Hume’s first major work of philosophy published in 1739 when he was just 29 yeas old. It is made up of three books entitled “Of the Understanding”, “Of the Passions”, and “Of Morals”. In the book he uses his sceptical rationalism to… more

The first part of Locke’s most important work of philosophy. Continued in volume 2.

Taken from the 21 volume 1901 edition of the Complete Works, this is Voltaire’s most famous “philosophic tale” in which he makes fun of the idea that “this is the best of all possible worlds” by showing how much injustice and folly… more

Taken from the 21 volume 1901 edition of the Complete Works, this is an early work by Voltaire of social and political analysis. Forced to go into exile in England, he was very impressed with the practice of religious toleration he… more

Vol. 2 of a 4 vol. collection of the works of Thomas Paine. Vol. 2 (1779-1792) contains the Letter to Abbey Raynal, Dissertations on Government, The Rights of Man (1 and 2) and various articles.

Vol. 4 of a 4 vol. collection of the works of Thomas Paine. Vol. 4 (1791-1804) contains The Age of Reason and various appendices.