Politics: Key Concepts in Philosophy
Key Concepts in Philosophy
1st Edition
Published on 24. May 2009
184 pages
978-1-4411-3608-4 (ISBN)
Description
The extent and nature of rights; the sources of state power; the promises and pitfalls of democracy; how to achieve a just distribution of social goods; the claims of culture and gender on our identity: these are just some of the issues to have been addressed by political philosophers throughout history.
Politics: Key Concepts in Philosophy offers a thorough and stimulating account of political philosophy. The text is structured thematically in order to convey the vibrancy of debates within the discipline. Through these debates the text addresses the ideas of major thinkers - including Plato, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Marx, Foucault, Rawls, Kymlicka, Okin and Butler - and it begins and ends with discussions about the nature of political philosophy itself.
This is an invaluable aid to study, one that goes beyond simple definitions and summaries; readers new to this discipline will encounter a lively text full of clear signposts for the journey into political philosophy.
Politics: Key Concepts in Philosophy offers a thorough and stimulating account of political philosophy. The text is structured thematically in order to convey the vibrancy of debates within the discipline. Through these debates the text addresses the ideas of major thinkers - including Plato, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Marx, Foucault, Rawls, Kymlicka, Okin and Butler - and it begins and ends with discussions about the nature of political philosophy itself.
This is an invaluable aid to study, one that goes beyond simple definitions and summaries; readers new to this discipline will encounter a lively text full of clear signposts for the journey into political philosophy.
Reviews / Votes
A superbly well-written study of the philosophical roots of contemporary political life. While recognising that our political problems may not be identical to those that motivated classical political philosophers MacKenzie shows how their work is reinterpreted to address contemporary issues. Deftly weaving together exegesis of texts with analysis of concepts and values this book will be of interest to students and general readers alike.More details
Series
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
ISBN-13
978-1-4411-3608-4 (9781441136084)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
05/2009
Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd.
€33.50
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Book
05/2009
Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd.
€136.50
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Iain MacKenzie is Lecturer in Political Theory at the University of Kent, UK. His previous publications include Political Concepts: A Reader and Guide (Edinburgh UP, 2005) and The Idea of Pure Critique (Continuum, 2004).
Content
Acknowledgements
1. Introduction
What is politics?
Government, governance and governmentalisation
Norms and varieties of political philosophy
The political and politicisation
2. Authority and Liberty
Absolute authority
Limits to authority
Individual liberty
Liberty and the general will
3. The State and Power
The capitalist state
The patriarchal state
Three dimensions of power
Power and normalisation
4.Social Justice and Equality
The good life
Value-pluralism
Justice as fairness
Justice as entitlement
Care and justice
The return of the good
5. Democracy and Political Order
Democracy and disorder
The value of political participation
The difficult birth of liberal democracy
From representative to deliberative democracy
Agonism and political order
6. Culture and Critique
Background to the culture debates
Cultural membership as a primary good
Minority cultures and the rights of women
Women, culture and identity
The fusion of horizons
Intersubjectivity and the politics of recognition
7. Conclusion: Identity, Difference and Political Philosophy
French feminist critiques of identity
The trouble with gender
The challenge of difference
Difference in political philosophy
Difference and political philosophy
Bibliography
Index
1. Introduction
What is politics?
Government, governance and governmentalisation
Norms and varieties of political philosophy
The political and politicisation
2. Authority and Liberty
Absolute authority
Limits to authority
Individual liberty
Liberty and the general will
3. The State and Power
The capitalist state
The patriarchal state
Three dimensions of power
Power and normalisation
4.Social Justice and Equality
The good life
Value-pluralism
Justice as fairness
Justice as entitlement
Care and justice
The return of the good
5. Democracy and Political Order
Democracy and disorder
The value of political participation
The difficult birth of liberal democracy
From representative to deliberative democracy
Agonism and political order
6. Culture and Critique
Background to the culture debates
Cultural membership as a primary good
Minority cultures and the rights of women
Women, culture and identity
The fusion of horizons
Intersubjectivity and the politics of recognition
7. Conclusion: Identity, Difference and Political Philosophy
French feminist critiques of identity
The trouble with gender
The challenge of difference
Difference in political philosophy
Difference and political philosophy
Bibliography
Index
