Why G.H. Sabine’s "A History of Political Theory" is Better Than the Rest
Contextualizes the evolution of political theory within the broader evolution of man and pre-Greek thought. Restored Content: gh sabine a history of political theory pdf better
The third edition (1961) stops before the upheavals of the 1960s, the fall of the Berlin Wall, or the rise of postmodernism. If you download a PDF of the 1961 edition, you are missing 60 years of critical commentary. If you download a PDF of the 1961
Sabine personally oversaw the first three editions. These are historically pure. They reflect mid-20th century American liberalism—skeptical of Marxism, respectful of empirical science. The prose is elegant but dense. Editions and Content Changes 4th Edition
The book went through four editions during Sabine’s life (1937, 1950, 1961). A posthumous fourth edition (1973) was revised by Thomas Landon Thorson, but purists grumble. The “real” Sabine, they say, is the third edition (1961) – the last one he personally completed.
Rather than declaring one theory "perfect," Sabine focuses on identifying the logical deficiencies and historical origins of various systems. Editions and Content Changes 4th Edition