Burlamaqui, Bayle: Freedom Tolerance, Natural Law

This is a Reading List based upon a Liberty Fund Conference on “Freedom, Tolerance, and Truth: Jean-Jacques Burlamaqui, Pierre Bayle, and the Modern Idea of Natural Law.”

Freedom, Tolerance, and Truth: Jean-Jacques Burlamaqui, Pierre Bayle, and the Modern Idea of Natural Law

Guide to the Readings

Editions used:

• Jean-Jacques Burlamaqui, The Principles of Natural and Politic Law, trans. Thomas Nugent, ed. and with an Introduction by Peter Korkman (Indianpolis: Liberty Fund, 2006).
• Pierre Bayle, A Philosophical Commentary on These Words of the Gospel, Luke 14.23, ‘Compel Them to Come In, That My House May Be Full’, edited, with an Introduction by John Kilcullen and Chandran Kukathas (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2005).

See also:

• Collections: Religious Toleration
• Collections: Political Theory
• Collections: Religion
• Collections: Natural Law and Enlightenment Classics
• Jean-Jacques Burlamaqui
• Pierre Bayle

Session I: The Anthropological Foundation of Human Action

• Bayle’s A Philosophical Commentary, Part I, Chapter I: That the Light of Nature, Or the First Principles of Reason Universally Receiv’d, Are the Genuin and Original Rule of All Interpretation of Scripture; Especially In Matters of Practice and Morality.
• Burlamaqui’s The Principles of Natural Law, Part I, Chapter I: Of the Nature of Man Considered With Regard to Right: of the Understanding, and Whatever Is Relative to This Faculty

Session II: The Anthropological Foundation of Liberty

• Bayle’s A Philosophical Commentary, Part II, Chapter I: First Objection, That Violence Is Not Design’d to Force Conscience, But to Awaken Those Who Neglect to Examine the Truth. the Illusion of This Thought. an Inquiry Into the Nature of What They Callopiniatreté.
• Burlamaqui’s The Principles of Natural Law, Part I, Chapters 2–6

Session III: The Ground, Nature, and Extent of Natural Law

• Burlamaqui’s The Principles of Natural Law, Part II, Chapters 1–5 and 7

Session IV: The Nature of Law and the Right to Command

• Burlamaqui’s The Principles of Natural Law, Part I, Chapters 8–11

Session V: The Right of Sovereignty in Public Administration

• Burlamaqui’s The Principles of Politic Law, Part III, Chapters 1, 2, 4, and 5

Session VI: Freedom of Conscience and Religious Toleration

• Bayle’s A Philosophical Commentary, Part I, Chapters 2–8
• Burlamaqui’s The Principles of Politic Law, Part III, Chapter 3