An Essay on the Modern State
Published on 13. February 1998
Book
Hardback
316 pages
978-0-521-49625-4 (ISBN)
Description
This important book is the first serious philosophical examination of the modern state. It inquires into the justification of this particular form of political society. It asks whether all states are 'nation-states', what are the alternative ways of organizing society, and which conditions make a state legitimate. The author concludes that, while states can be legitimate, they typically fail to have the powers (e.g sovereignty) that they claim. Many books analyze government and its functions but none focuses on the state as a distinctive form of political organization or examines critically the claims states make for themselves. In filling this lacuna Christopher Morris has written a book that will command the attention of political philosophers, political scientists, legal theorists, and specialists in international relations.
Reviews / Votes
'... a judicious and wide-ranging discussion of the problems of the definition of the state, the justification of the state, the nature of the state's authority and its extent, and the justification of territorial boundaries for the state and its appropriate function. Morris's book is an enjoyable and thought-provoking read that political philosophers and theorists will do well to pay attention to.' Ethics 'Christopher Morris's An Essay on the Modern State argues ... that political philosophers should ... first examine more carefully the state itself, its purported justifications, and the claims states typically make over people and territories. This seems to be exactly the right prescription for philosophy, and Morris's approach not only brings contemporary preoccupations into closer contact with those of classical political philosophy, it also nicely shows just how the projects of mainstream contemporary political philosophy are related to those of more radical and revisionist (for instance anarchist) theory.' The Philosophical Review 'Morris reveals a great deal about just what the modern state can and cannot be and this puts all students of political philosophy in his debt.' Review of MetaphysicsMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
1 Halftones, unspecified
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
666 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-521-49625-4 (9780521496254)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Christopher W. Morris
An Essay on the Modern State
Book
07/2002
Cambridge University Press
€51.20
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Person
Content
Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. The modern state; 3. Social order in anarchy; 4. Legitimacy; 5. Reasons; 6. Justice; 7. Sovereignty; 8. Boundaries; 9. The functions of governments; 10. States: pretenses, powers, prospects; Notes; Index.