| | Hamilton's conception of human nature shaped his political thought. His predominantly and radically liberal conception of human nature was based on John Locke's concept of liberty, Thomas Hobbes's concept of power, and Nicolò Machiavelli's concept of the 'effectual truth.' It thus stressed the necessary relation between self-interest and republican government and entailed the repudiation of classical republican and Christian political ideals. But Hamilton's love of liberty was nonetheless rooted in a sense of classical nobility and Christian philanthropy that simultaneously elevated and contradicted his liberalism. The complex relation between liberty, nobility, philanthropy, and power in Hamilton's conception of human nature, in effect, defined his thought and exposed the strengths and weaknesses of his ideology. That complexity formed the spirit of his liberal [[republicanism]].<ref>Michael J. Rosano, "Liberty, Nobility, Philanthropy, and Power in Alexander Hamilton's Conception of Human Nature". ''American Journal of Political Science'' 2003 47(1): 61-74 </ref> | | Hamilton's conception of human nature shaped his political thought. His predominantly and radically liberal conception of human nature was based on John Locke's concept of liberty, Thomas Hobbes's concept of power, and Nicolò Machiavelli's concept of the 'effectual truth.' It thus stressed the necessary relation between self-interest and republican government and entailed the repudiation of classical republican and Christian political ideals. But Hamilton's love of liberty was nonetheless rooted in a sense of classical nobility and Christian philanthropy that simultaneously elevated and contradicted his liberalism. The complex relation between liberty, nobility, philanthropy, and power in Hamilton's conception of human nature, in effect, defined his thought and exposed the strengths and weaknesses of his ideology. That complexity formed the spirit of his liberal [[republicanism]].<ref>Michael J. Rosano, "Liberty, Nobility, Philanthropy, and Power in Alexander Hamilton's Conception of Human Nature". ''American Journal of Political Science'' 2003 47(1): 61-74 </ref> |
| − | In 1791 Alexander Hamilton was caught having an affair with Maria Reynolds, the wife of a Revolutionary War officer. Her husband, James Reynolds, found out about the affair and threatened to announce it to the public if he were not paid blackmail money. Hamilton conceded and paid James a monthly amount in return to continue sleeping with Maria.
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| − | Several years later, James (who was a professional con-man) was caught in a scheme where he and several others were speculating on unpaid back wages to Revolutionary War vererans. James then used his knowledge of Hailton's affair as a bargining tool to lessen his sentence. [[James Monroe]] and [[Frederick Muhlenburg]] who were the federal investigators decided to keep the matter between themselves and Hamilton until everything had been straitened out. Now Hamilton was faced with the choice to either admit his affair or say he was part of scheme with Reynolds. In the end, he announced his affair to Monroe and Muhlenburg and in letter to [[Thomas Jefferson]].
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