The Politics of Persons
Individual Autonomy and Socio-historical Selves
Published on 26. May 2011
Book
Paperback/Softback
286 pages
978-1-107-40229-4 (ISBN)
Description
It is both an ideal and an assumption of traditional conceptions of justice for liberal democracies that citizens are autonomous, self-governing persons. Yet standard accounts of the self and of self-government at work in such theories are hotly disputed and often roundly criticized in most of their guises. John Christman offers a sustained critical analysis of both the idea of the 'self' and of autonomy as these ideas function in political theory, offering interpretations of these ideas which avoid such disputes and withstand such criticisms. Christman's model of individual autonomy takes into account the socially constructed nature of persons and their complex cultural and social identities, and he shows how this model can provide a foundation for principles of justice for complex democracies marked by radical difference among citizens. His book will interest a wide range of readers in philosophy, politics, and the social sciences.
Reviews / Votes
Review of the hardback: 'The Politics of Persons is a rich and provocative work that makes a significant contribution both to autonomy theory and to political philosophy. Lively and erudite, it is a landmark work that is the most comprehensive treatment to date of how these two fields can, and should, interrelate. It should thus be read by all interested in either political philosophy or autonomy theory, and is absolutely essential reading for anyone interested in both.' James Stacey Taylor, The College of New Jersey Review of the hardback: 'John Christman's work is at the forefront of contemporary debates about the social and political dimensions of individual autonomy. In The Politics of Persons he extends his influential historical analysis of individual autonomy in two important ways: first, by grounding this analysis in a social and historical model of the political self; and second by defending an autonomy-based conception of justice and democracy. The Politics of Persons is an ambitious and significant contribution to the theory of autonomy.' Catriona Mackenzie, Macquarie UniversityMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight
418 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-107-40229-4 (9781107402294)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Content
1. Introduction; Part I. Selves: 2. The social conception of the self: a critical taxonomy; 3. The post-modern subject; 4. The narrative self; 5. Memory, agency, and the self; Part II. Autonomy: 6. Political persons; 7. The historical conception of autonomy; 8. Relational autonomy; 9. The dynamics of social identities; Part III. Justice: 10. Justice over time: history, public reason, and political legitimacy; Bibliography.