Limitations
Within any research, there are always limitations. While time was a major constraint with this project, there are other aspects which need to be addressed to be fully transparent about these results
Western-Focused
This study emphasizes the work of Western philosophers in the early modern era and applies it, in general, to Western political texts. As a researcher, I am neither educated in Eastern philosophy nor do I have personal experience with the governments and political philosophies of non-Western nations. As such, I believe that this research can be enhanced by the integration of these ideas but that I am not the researcher who should be the one to undertake it.
The Choice of Philosophers
This project is centered around early modern philosophers. I am not claiming that these ideas originated during this period. Each of these philosophers’ works expands on the work of people that came from before them. These ideas can be traced through medieval thought, early Christian thought, and the ancients. However, the language utilized in early modern political thought directly correlates to contemporary political documents, making it a good starting point for comparison.