Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Political theory
(4,637 words)

1. Definition

The category political theory has three meanings: (1) in contrast to political practice, it stands for any intellectual consideration of politics; (2) within the realm of political thought, it designates the reflective level marked by coherence, systematization, and rigor, that is, it a…

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Weber, Wolfgang E.J., “Political theory”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 30 May 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_025689>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20210107



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