
Are Liberty and Equality Compatible?
Cambridge University Press
Published on 29. November 2012
Book
Paperback/Softback
290 pages
978-1-107-41161-6 (ISBN)
Description
Are the political ideals of liberty and equality compatible? This question is of central and continuing importance in political philosophy, moral philosophy, and welfare economics. In this book, two distinguished philosophers take up the debate. Jan Narveson argues that a political ideal of negative liberty is incompatible with any substantive ideal of equality, while James P. Sterba argues that Narveson's own ideal of negative liberty is compatible, and in fact leads to the requirements of a substantive ideal of equality. Of course, they cannot both be right. Thus, the details of their arguments about the political ideal of negative liberty and its requirements will determine which of them is right. Engagingly and accessibly written, their debate will be of value to all who are interested in the central issue of what are the practical requirements of a political ideal of liberty.
Reviews / Votes
'I think the book is very well structured ... the discussion of the challenge to (right-)libertarianism that negative liberty is at stake on both sides in conflicts between the poor and rich is elaborated masterfully ... Narveson and Sterba are to be praised for ... developing two comprehensive and important answers to the questions it raises.' Nils Holtug, MindMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight
424 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-107-41161-6 (9781107411616)
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

Jan Narveson | James P. Sterba
Are Liberty and Equality Compatible?
E-Book
05/2010
1st Edition
Cambridge University Press
€26.49
Available for download

Jan Narveson | James P. Sterba
Are Liberty and Equality Compatible?
Book
04/2010
Cambridge University Press
€122.90
Shipment within 15-20 days
Persons
Author
University of Waterloo, Ontario
University of Notre Dame, Indiana
Content
Introduction; Part I. Equality is Compatible and Required by Liberty: 1. The practical requirements of an ideal of negative liberty; 2. Other attempts to show that libertarians should accept welfare or equality; 3. Objections from libertarians to my argument from liberty to equality; 4. My argument again and its future prospects; Part II. Liberty is Incompatible with the Right to Equality: 5. The issue framed; 6. The 'Social Contract' approach to moral philosophy; 7. The grounds for welfarism considered; 8. Conclusion; Part III. Responses: 9. Response to Narveson; 10. Response to Sterba.