Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

2004

Series

Political Science

Faculty Publications - Department of History and Politics

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

James Wilson: Presbyterian, Anglican, Thomist, Or Deist?: Does It Matter? (Chapter 7 Of The Founders On God And Government), Mark Hall Jan 2004

James Wilson: Presbyterian, Anglican, Thomist, Or Deist?: Does It Matter? (Chapter 7 Of The Founders On God And Government), Mark Hall

Faculty Publications - Department of History and Politics

Excerpt: "James Wilson is buried in America's Westminster Abby-Christ Church, Philadelphia. This Anglican church is only blocks away from the First Presbyterian church in Philadelphia, where Wilson rented a pew until the end of his life. Some scholars report that Wilson joined the Anglican Communion in 1778, perhaps at the behest of one his best friends, William White, the first Anglican bishop of Philadelphia. Others claim he that never abandoned the Presbyterianism of his native Scotland. Still others pay no attention to his denominational commitments, arguing that he was actually a Thornist or a deist. Finally, some scholars say nothing …


James Wilson's Law Lectures, Mark David Hall Jan 2004

James Wilson's Law Lectures, Mark David Hall

Faculty Publications - Department of History and Politics

Excerpt: "A major problem faced by students of political theory, philosophy, or law in the founding era is that many of America's intellectual leaders did not write systematic essays or books. Accordingly, scholars often have to reconstruct their subjects' thoughts based on their actions, contributions to public debates (e.g., speeches in conventions and newspaper articles), and private correspondence. Works like Jefferson's Notes on Virginia, Adams's Thoughts on Government, and The Federalist Papers are partial exceptions to this rule, and scholars have made good use of them. Perhaps the clearest exception to the rule, however, is James Wilson's series of law …