A comprehensive and thoughtful overview of the Western tradition of political thought, this book approaches the subject in a way that helps students develop their own political thinking and critical thinking skills.

Rather than just dryly discussing one thinker after another, DeLue uniquely organizes his text around a compelling theme that will not only intrigue students, but will help them see why studying political thinking is important. Throughout the book, students are asked to consider: What is the nature of a civil society and why is it important? The major writers discussed in the text are read not only with an interest in understanding their views, but also an interest in understanding their relationship to the idea of a civil society. DeLue contends that a civil society is important for securing the way of life that most of us value and want to preserve, a way of life that allows people to place significance on their own lives.