Idealism and Rights

Reviews / Votes

The book fully confirms the reputation which Sweet was already building for himself...as the leading authority on Bosanquet. -- Peter Nicholson * Bulletin of the Hegel Society of Great Britain * The material that one finds in the form of very enlightening and informative footnotes and references given in support of the entire argument of the book makes Professor Sweet's scholarship more conspicuous and prominent. -- S.V. Bokil * Indian Philosophical Quarterly * Idealism and Rights is...clearly written and well-organized, with useful signposting through numbered and headed paragraphs, along with helpful summaries at key stages and forward pointers. A reliable account of all the central concepts and arguments of Bosanquet's political theory is set before the reader. -- Geoffrey Thomas, University of London This book is to be recommended: it makes out a good case for taking Bosanquet seriously, not only as a matter of philosophical antiquarianism, but of current philosophical concern. -- James Connelly * Philosophy in Review * In short, Idealism and Rights is highly recommended to the reader looking to get a grip on Bosanquet's social / political philosophy. Indeed, anyone with an interest in British Idealism or rights theory will, I think, find this work instructive. Sweet's treatment of the differences between empiricist and idealist conceptions of rights is the best of which I am aware. And his focus on Bosanquet's 'social ontology'-the metaphysical basis of state authority-provides welcome relief from the uncritical attitude so often encountered in discussions of these matters. * British Journal for the History of Philosophy * Professor Sweet has written a very thorough, systematic treatment of Bosanquet's ideas relevant to the major topic identified in the book's title. He displays mastery over the literature on this significant but somewhat disregarded British idealist thinker, dealing in depth with the usual objections to his political philosophy in the process of defending the possibility of a non-individual theory of rights. -- William L. McBride, Purdue University