　　在中国现代化的进程中，西方哲学社会科学始终是最重要的思想资源。然而，一个令人遗憾的事实是，自19世纪末20世纪初“西学东渐”起，国人对于西学的了解，基本上是凭借零星的翻译和介绍，认真地去读原著的人少之又少。这些中译本，囿于译者的眼光和水平，往往与原著出入颇大。因此，国人谈论西学的情景，很像是瞎子摸象，虽然各执一词，却皆不得要领。
　　当然，100年间，还是出现了一批学贯中西的学者，但其中肯花工夫于译业的太少。许多年积累下来，我们在这个领域拥有的优质中译本依然十分有限。而且，再好的译本，毕竟与原著隔了一层。倘若我们的学术界始终主要依靠中译本去了解和研究西学，我们的西学水平就永远不能摆脱可怜的境况。
　　好在现在有了改变这种境况的条件。在当今全球化时代，随着国门进一步开放，中外交流日渐增多，人们普遍重视英语学习，国人中尤其年轻人中具备阅读英文原著能力的人越来越多了。在这种形势下，本丛书应运而生。编辑者的计划是，选择西方哲学、人文学科、社会科学领域的最基本的英文经典原著，分批陆续出版，为有志者提供价廉的版本和阅读的便利。我赞赏这样的善举，并且相信，这也是为学术界做的一件益事。
　　周国平
　　2010年2月24日

内容简介

精彩书评

　　★倘若我们的学术界始终主要依靠中译本去了解和研究西学，我们的西学水平就永远不能摆脱可怜的境况。本丛书选择西方哲学、人文学科、社会科学领域的最基本的英文经典原著，分批陆续出版，我赞赏这样的善举，并且相信，这也是为学术做的一件益事。
　　——周国平

1 OF GOVERNMENT BOOK I
1.1 CHAP.I
1.2 CHAP.II.Of Paternal and Regal Power
1.3 CHAP.III.Of Adam's Title to Sovereignty by Creation
1.4 CHAP.IV.Of Adam's Title to Sovereignty by Donation， Gen.i.28
1.5 CHAP.V.Of Adam's Title to Sovereignty by the Subjection of Eve
1.6 CHAP.VI.Of Adam's Title to Sovereignty by Fatherhood
1.7 CHAP.VII.Of Fatherhood and Property considered together as Fountains of Sovereignty.
1.8 CHAP.VIII.Of the Conveyance of Adam's sovereign Monarchical Power
1.9 CHAP.IX.Of Monarchy， by Inheritance from Adam
1.10 CHAP.X.Of the Heir to Adam's Monarchical Power
1.11 CHAP.XI.Who Heir?

2 OF CIVIL-GOVERNMENT BOOK II
2.1 CHAP.I
2.2 CHAP.II.Of the State of Nature
2.3 CHAP.III.Of the State of War
2.4 CHAP.IV.Of SLAVERY
2.5 CHAP.V.Of PROPERTY
2.6 CHAP.VI.Of Paternal Power
2.7 CHAP.VII.Of Political or Civil Society
2.8 CHAP.VIII.Of the Beginning of Political Societies
2.9 CHAP.IX.Of the Ends of Political Society and Government
2.10 CHAP.X.Of the Forms of a Common-wealth
2.11 CHAP.XI.Of the Extent of the Legislative Power
2.12 CHAP.XII.Of the Legislative， Executive， and Federative Power of the Common-wealth
2.13 CHAP.XIII.Of the Subordination of the Powers of the Commonwealth
2.14 CHAP.XIV.Of PREROGATIVE
2.15 CHAP.XV.Of Paternal， Political， and Despotical Power， considered together
2.16 CHAP.XVI.Of CONQUEST
2.17 CHAP.XVII.Of USURPATION
2.18 CHAP.XVIII.Of TYRANNY
2.19 CHAP.XIX.Of the Dissolution of Government

精彩书摘

　　For either this right in nature， of Adam‘s heir， to be king over all the race of men，（for all together they make one multitude） is a right not necessary to the making of a lawful king， and so there may be lawful kings without it， and then kings titles and power depend not on it； or else all the kings in the world but one are not lawful kings， and so have no right to obedience： either this title of heir to Adam is that whereby kings hold their crowns， and have a right to subjection from their subjects， and then one only can have it， and the rest being subjects can require no obedience from other men， who are but the irfellow subjects； or else it is not the title whereby kings rule， and have a right to obedience from their subjects， and then kings are kings without it， and this dream of the natural sovereignty of Adam’s heir is of no use to obedience and government： for if kings have a right to dominion， and the obedience of the irsubjects， who are not， nor can possibly be， heirs to Adam， what use is there of such a title， when we are obliged to obey without it？ If kings， who are not heirs to Adam， have no right to sovereignty， we are all free， till our author， or anybody for him， will shew us Adam‘s right heir. If there be but one heir of Adam，there can be but one lawful king in the world， and no body in conscience can be obliged to obedience till it be resolved who that is； for it may be any one，who is not known to be of a younger house， and all others have equal titles.If there be more than one heir of Adam， every one is his heir， and so everyone has regal power： for if two sons can be heirs together， then all the sons are equally heirs， and so all are heirs， being all sons， or sons sons of Adam. Betwixt these two the right of heir cannot stand； for by it either but one only man， orall men are kings. Take which you please， it dissolves the bonds of government and obedience； since， if all men are heirs， they can owe obedience to no body；if only one， no body can be obliged to pay obedience to him， till he be known，and his title made out.
　　……