Description
Book SynopsisThis fourth edition of The Individual and the Political Order provides a careful, accessible, and reasoned liberal justification for the democratic state and political authority. The central feature of liberalism is the commitment to individual autonomy. The authors show how that commitment provides a defense of democracy, and they give a liberal interpretation to such core values as liberty, equality, and political authority. Although the authors support liberal theory, they also provide a sympathetic treatment of the critics of liberalism. The authors give a sound explanation of such positions as feminist political theory, communitarianism, and post-modernism but they also argue persuasively that these theories fall short as adequate theories of the political order. A significant feature of the new edition is the treatment of international issues and globalization, particularly the war on terrorism and poverty in the third world. This edition retains its balanced treatment of such major theorists as Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Rawls and, in this edition, Marx. This edition continues the tradition of readability, balance, and careful argumentation that characterized the earlier editions. The Individual and the Political Order is accessible to a wide audience and to nearly all individuals who are interested in how citizens in a state should be governed.
Trade ReviewAn engaging, well-balanced, illuminating overview of central issues in contemporary political philosophy. I recommend it highly. -- Steven Cahn, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Preface Chapter 2 Introduction Chapter 3 Chapter One: Love It or Leave It: Individual Conscience and Political Authority Chapter 4 Chapter Two: Utilitarianism Chapter 5 Chapter Three: Human Rights: Meaning and Justification Chapter 6 Chapter Four: Justice Chapter 7 Chapter Five: Liberty Chapter 8 Chapter Six: Democracy Chapter 9 Chapter Seven: Liberal Political Theory and Its Critics Chapter 10 Chapter Eight: Ethics and International Affairs Chapter 11 Chapter Nine: War, Morality, and Terrorism Chapter 12 Postscript
