Analysing the social contract theorists through the lens of contemporary feminist philosophy, this work focuses on the relationship between the 'self' and the law and examines how social contractarians have viewed this relationship.

Contents: Introduction; The social contractarians and contemporary feminist philosophy; Hobbes; Spinoza; Locke; Rousseau; Kant; Conclusion: the social contractarians and contemporary images of women; Bibliography; Index.

'This erudite and accessible study of social contract theory brings a welcome new perspective to the legacy of modern political thought. This perspective yields innovative interpretations of notions such as equality, justice and "the individual". The inclusion of the usually neglected Spinoza adds depth to Richardson's brilliant and provocative project of rethinking the relevance of classical contractarianism for theory and practice today.' Moira Gatens, University of Sydney, Australia 'Richardson's book provides a stimulating analysis of how feminist theorists engage with the social contract tradition and how conceptions of the self can be reformulated.' Feminist Legal Studies