Description
Book SynopsisA trenchant critique of established ideas in political philosophy and a provocative call for change
Many contemporary political thinkers are gripped by the belief that their task is to develop an ideal theory of rights or justice for guiding and judging political actions. But in Philosophy and Real Politics, Raymond Geuss argues that philosophers should first try to understand why real political actors behave as they actually do. Far from being applied ethics, politics is a skill that allows people to survive and pursue their goals. To understand politics is to understand the powers, motives, and concepts that people have and that shape how they deal with the problems they face in their particular historical situations.
Philosophy and Real Politics both outlines a historically oriented, realistic political philosophy and criticizes liberal political philosophies based on abstract conceptions of rights and justice.
Trade Review"A discipline-altering book."--Glen Newey, London Review of Books "[Geuss's] intention in Philosophy and Real Politics, his short, sharp new book, is ... to introduce a note of realism into contemporary philosophical debates about justice, by force if necessary."--Adam Kirsch, City Journal "A manifesto for a new political philosophy... Geuss's realist proposal brings forcefully to the contemporary political discussion the idea that philosophy is an engaged discipline, both in the sense of engagee, of directly speaking to the political issues of the day, and in the sense of having its own historical cultural commitments firmly in view."--Katerina Deligiorgi, The Philosopher's Magazine "Philosophy and Real Politics is an impressive and provocative essay on contemporary Anglo-American political philosophy theory."--Christoph Konrath, Law and Politics Book Review "[G]iven the current trends in political philosophy, Geuss's book is both timely and extremely important. One of Geuss's many virtues as a political philosopher is his ability to effectively confront philosophical complacency, and this superb book is surely successful in this regard."--David Sherman, Social Theory and Practice "A slim, devastating critique of the flight towards abstraction and pristine idealism in contemporary liberal political thought--a path led by the late John Rawls. Geuss's work deserves to be far better known."--Sunil Khilnani, Outlook India
Table of ContentsPreface vii Introduction 1 Part I Realism Who Whom? 23 Priorities, Preferences, Timing 30 Legitimacy 34 Tasks of Political Theory 37 Understanding, Evaluation, Orientation 37 Conceptual Innovation 42 Ideology 50 Part II Failures of Realism Rights 60 Justice 70 Equality 76 Fairness, Ignorance, Impartiality 80 Power 90 Conclusion 95 Notes 103 Works Cited 109 Index 113
