The present volume consists of the late Professor Green's lectures
on the 'Principles of Political Obligation,' together with a chapter
on the different senses of the term 'Freedom,' taken from a course
directly connected with the former. The work thus re-issued is a
reprint of pp. 307-553 of Vol. II. of Professor Green's Philosophical
Works, with the addition of a brief supplement (p. 248) furnished
by the present writer, consisting of English renderings for some
quotations which appear in the text (pp. 49-59).
The reason for this re-issue is as follows. The course of lectures in
question has long been known to teachers as a most valuable text-book
for students of political theory. But as a portion of a large and
expensive volume, which is itself part of a set of collected works,
it naturally was not accessible to members of popular audiences.
In discussing the selection of a text-book for a projected course
of instruction on political theory, to be given in London, it was
suggested that a separate volume, containing the 'Principles of
Political Obligation' would be the best conceivable book for the
purpose. No other recent writer, it was felt, has the classical
strength and sanity of Professor Green, who was never more thorough
and more at home then when dealing with those questions affecting
citizenship in and for which, it may be said, he lived. Many of the
troubles of today reflect the distraction of minds to which a sane
and balanced view of society has never been adequately presented;
and the importance of the service which might be rendered to general
education by the re-issue of these lectures in a convenient form
appeared to justify an application to those who had the power of
carrying out the suggestion which had been made.
The friends of genuine political philosophy will have good cause, it
is hoped, to be grateful to Mrs T.H. Green for her cordial assent
to the proposed republication, as also to Messrs. Longman for their
promptitude in agreeing to undertake it. The elaborate table of
contents, reprinted from the Philosophical Works, was compiled by
their editor, the late Mr. Lewis Nettleship. It adds very greatly to
the value of the book.