Description
Book SynopsisArgues that political order is founded not on contract but on sacrifice. This book draws on philosophy, cultural theory, American constitutional law, religious and literary studies, and political psychology to advance political theory.
Trade Review"[This] is a beautifully written meditation on the sources of political meaning that cannot be justified by rational argumentation. It challenges the reader to acknowledge that politics is a fundamentally amoral enterprise that resembles romantic love more than rational debate."--Margaret Kohn, Political Theory "Paul W. Kahn's outstanding book alluringly explains the perplexity of liberalism in its post-September 11 situation."--Samuel Moyn, Ethics and International Affairs "Putting Liberalism in Its Place is a real success. It is learned, clear, forceful, and loaded with quotable lines. Most importantly, it takes a much needed shot across the bow of academic liberal theory."--Dan Silver, Foundations of Political Theory "This intriguing book is filled with challenging ideas and supplies some missing ingredients of the intellectual groundwork of liberalism."--James Magee, Law and Politics Book Review "Paul W. Kahn ... argue[s] that liberal theory lacks the conceptual resources to understand political life... Kahn sees liberalism as a philosophy for a postmodern condition, which may be emerging in Europe, where the state may be losing its grip on the moral imagination and 'politics [is] stripped of the political.' The book offers a provocative argument and is well written."--Choice "As a critique of liberal assumptions about human nature and political theory and as a thoughtful essay on political theology and evil, Kahn's analyses initiate discussions that should be continued."--Shalom Carmy, Hebraic Political Studies
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments vii Introduction: Putting Liberalism in Its Place 1 PART I: CULTURAL STUDY AND LIBERALISM 29 Chapter 1: The Architecture of the Liberal World 33 Chapter 2: A Brief Genealogy of American Liberalism 66 Chapter 3: The Instabilities of Liberalism 113 PART II: LOVE AND POLITICS 143 Chapter 4: The Faculties of the Soul: Beyond Reason and Interest 145 Chapter 5: The Erotic Body 183 Chapter 6: The Autonomy of the Political in the Modern Nation-State 228 Conclusion: The Future of the Nation-State 291 Index 315
