A History of Catholic Political Philosophy Hardcover – January 8, 2026

At different points in its history, Catholicism has been accused either of lacking any genuine interest in political philosophy or of advancing a monolithic and authoritarian program. The overall goal of all three volumes is not to defend Catholic thought against these charges, but to raise the question: What is a Catholic political philosophy? Or, more radically: Is there a Catholic political philosophy? Are there many Catholic political philosophies? Each of the three volumes treats a different period in the history of Catholic political philosophy with an eye to these questions: the first, from Augustine to Marsilius of Padua; the second, from Thomas More to Leo XIII; and the third, from the early papal statements of the twentieth century to Pope Francis. Each volume seeks to present the principal works of these authors for reconsideration by contemporary readers, in order to urge an encounter with the originality of their contribution to political philosophy. Read more