Description
Book SynopsisA collection of essays, addressing the core subjects of political philosophy such as justice, liberty, and equality; the nature and meaning of liberalism; toleration; power and the fear of power; democracy; and the nature of political philosophy itself.
Trade Review"A splendid expression of Williams's distinctive outlook, which joined a conviction that moral argument is important in politics with an insistence that we keep our eyes firmly fixed on the real political world... [S]harp, funny and incisive."--Thomas Nagel, Times Literary Supplement "In this collection, as in all of his other works, Bernard Williams shows how much more interesting our philosophic reflections on the problems of human life can be when they begin with life's most mundane and unavoidable experiences."--Bernard Yack, Ethics "Characteristically, all of the essays are closely argued, elegantly written, and strongly engaging. The book is a welcome addition to the literatures on the many issues it addresses."--Richard E. Flathman, Perspectives on Politics "This collection of essays is well-written, challenging and highly enjoyable. It has the searching, inquisitive and witty style typical of its author, with scores of ideas and insights briefly alluded to without further development, making for engaging reading."--Chris Nathan, Oxonian Review
Table of ContentsPreface by Patricia Williams vii Introduction by Geoffrey Hawthorn xi CHAPTER ONE: Realism and Moralism in Political Theory 1 CHAPTER TWO: In the Beginning Was the Deed 18 CHAPTER THREE: Pluralism, Community and Left Wittgensteinianism 29 CHAPTER FOUR: Modernity and the Substance of Ethical Life 40 CHAPTER FIVE: The Liberalism of Fear 52 CHAPTER SIX: Human Rights and Relativism 62 CHAPTER SEVEN: From Freedom to Liberty: The Construction of a Political Value 75 CHAPTER EIGHT: The Idea of Equality 97 CHAPTER NINE: Con .icts of Liberty and Equality 115 CHAPTER TEN: Toleration, a Political or Moral Question? 128 CHAPTER ELEVEN: Censorship 139 CHAPTER TWELVE: Humanitarianism and the Right to Intervene 145 CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Truth, Politics, and Self-Deception 154 Bernard Williams:Writings of Political Interest 165 Index 171
