External Speaker: Dr. Adrian BLAU (Senior Lecturer, Kings College London)

We lack methodological principles for how to draw contemporary insights from historical texts. As a result, many efforts to draw such insights fail – more than most people realise. This paper draws on examples of good and bad practice to show how to draw contemporary insights from the history of political thought – and how not to. Overall, some of the boldest claims for the contemporary value of history of political thought come from scholars whose own contemporary insights are far less convincing than they think. A less disdainful approach to contemporary political theory and philosophy is vital.