Political Philosophy
1st Edition
Published on 5. July 2001
Book
Hardback
408 pages
978-1-85728-760-8 (ISBN)
Description
This comprehensive introduction to the major thinkers and topics in political philosophy explores the philosophical traditions which continue to inform our political judgements.
Dudley Knowles introduces the ideas of key political thinkers including Hobbes, Locke, Marx and Mill and influential contemporary thinkers such as Berlin, Rawls and Nozick. He outlines central problems in political philosophy and encourages the reader to critically engage with all the issues discussed.
The individual chapters discuss and analyse:
* utilitarianism
* liberty
* rights
* justice
* obligation
* democracy
Political Philosophy is ideally suited to students taking introductory courses in political theory and philosophy.
Dudley Knowles introduces the ideas of key political thinkers including Hobbes, Locke, Marx and Mill and influential contemporary thinkers such as Berlin, Rawls and Nozick. He outlines central problems in political philosophy and encourages the reader to critically engage with all the issues discussed.
The individual chapters discuss and analyse:
* utilitarianism
* liberty
* rights
* justice
* obligation
* democracy
Political Philosophy is ideally suited to students taking introductory courses in political theory and philosophy.
Reviews / Votes
'The author presents his arguments... with great good humour and proper modesty... his sections on Berlin, Hayek and Rawls are masterpieces of compression; and the chapter on rights takes one through Hohfeldian and other terminologies with admirable briskness. But throughout, the footnotes and reading list will lead the teacher and student to where they need to go next.' - Australian Journal of Political ScienceMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Undergraduate
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 138 mm
Weight
602 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-85728-760-8 (9781857287608)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Dudley Knowles is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Glasgow. He is the author of the Routledge Philosophy Guidebook to Hegel and the Philosophy of Right
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Content
Preface 1. Introduction: the methods of ethics and political philosophy; political philosophy 2. Utilitarianism: the foundations of utilitarianism; utilitarian political philosophy 3. Liberty: introduction; analysis; the value of freedom; free states and free citizens; conclusion 4. Rights: introduction; analysis and definition; the justification of rights 5. Distributive Justice: entitlement; human needs; equality of what?; John Rawls' theory of justice; the communitarian challenge 6. Political Obligation: the problems; anarchism and communitarianism; consent and contract; the benefits of good government; conclusion 7. Democracy: introduction; Rousseau: freedom, equality and the general will; direct and representative democracy; democracy and majority tyranny; democracy, deliberation and disagreement Notes Bibliography Index