A. John Simmons is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and creative of today's political philosophers. His work on political obligation is regarded as definitive and he is also internationally respected as an interpreter of John Locke. The characteristic features of clear argumentation and careful scholarship that have been hallmarks of his philosophy are everywhere evident in this collection. The essays focus on the problems of political obligation and state legitimacy as well as on historical theories of property and justice. Cumulatively the collection presents a distinctive social and political philosophy, exploring the nature of our most fundamental rights and obligations, and displaying the power and plausibility of Lockean ideal theory.

"...there is no question that this is an extraordinarily fine collection of essays. Whatever one thinks of the Lockean approach, every political theorist should read this book; it is clearly written, tightly argued, and concerns core issues in political philosophy. In short, it is a model of how political philosophy should be done." Ethics