Description
Book SynopsisPareto and Political Theory is the first book-length study of the philosopher's importance in terms of the most fundamental issues of political discourse: individualism vs. holism, science vs. hermeneutics, laissez-faire vs. social engineering, and value relativism vs. moral absolutism.
Joseph V. Femia shows that although Pareto is considered a founding father' of both sociology and mathematical economics, his contribution to political theory is neither fully recognised nor properly explored. This is also the only book to examine Pareto's critique of Kantianism and natural law and also includes the first comparison of Pareto's thought with postmodernism and a detailed refutation of the familiar charge that Pareto was a defender of fascism.
This critical, but sympathetic analysis refutes the familiar charge that Pareto was some sort of proto-fascist and instead locates him in the Machiavellian tradition of sceptical liberalism', which scorns
Table of Contents
1. Introduction and Preview 2. Metaphysics vs. the Logico-experimental Method 3. The Science of Politics 4. The Deconstruction of Political Philosophy 5. The Critique of ‘Demagogic Plutocracy’ 6. The Sceptical Liberal
