Description
Book SynopsisThe Blackwell Guide to Social and Political Philosophy brings together a collection of newly commissioned essays which examine fundamental issues in social and political theory. Written by leading social and political philosophers, each essay provides a map to the history of the issue at hand and a judicious assessment of the main arguments that have been brought to bear upon that issue.
Trade Review"Robert Simon has assembled a strong, well-organized collection. The volume's contributors are distinguished and the essays have been chosen to convey a balanced picture of the field."
George Sher, Rice University "This superbly edited volume addresses central questions surrounding the liberal democratic theory of the state. Both the advocates of contemporary expressions of liberal democratic theory and critics of those formulations receive a fair hearing. Excellent discussions of the values of liberty, justice, equality, individual rights, and democratic choice are included as well as timely discussions of pluralism and the treatment of groups in democratic theory." Norman E. Bowie, University of Minnesota
Table of ContentsNotes on Contributors ix
Introduction: Social and Political Philosophy – Sorting Out the Issues 1
Robert L. Simon
Part I Core Principles and the Liberal Democratic State
1 Political Obligation and Authority 17
A. John Simmons
2 Liberty, Coercion, and the Limits of the State 38
Alan Wertheimer
3 Justice 60
Christopher Heath Wellman
4 Equality 85
Richard J. Arneson
5 Preference, Rationality, and Democratic Theory 106
Ann E. Cudd
Part II Liberalism, Its Critics, and Alternative Approaches
6 Marx’s Legacy 131
Richard W. Miller
7 Feminism and Political Theory 154
Virginia Held
8 Liberalism and the Challenge of Communitarianism 177
James P. Sterba
9 Liberal Theories and their Critics 197
William Nelson
Part III Pluralism, Diversity, and Deliberation
10 Deliberative Democracy 221
James S. Fishkin
11 Citizenship and Pluralism 239
Daniel M. Weinstock
12 The New Enlightenment: Critical Reflections on the Political Significance of Race 271
A. Todd Franklin
13 Religion and Liberal Democracy 292
Christopher J. Eberle
Select Bibliography 319
Index 321
