Against Politics: On Government, Anarchy and Order

by De Jasay,Anthony

• ISBN13: 9780415170673
• ISBN10: 0415170672
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1997-12-22
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Government depends on collective decision making. Even in peaceful democracies, some decide for all. The author challenges the morality of this position. It is not different political systems that are at fault so much as the very nature of politics itself. IAgainst Politics draws together de Jasay's key work in this area over the last ten years. In the first section of the book de Jasay attacks contractarian thought and the very notion of the legitimacy of politics. In the final section he outlines an alternative vision, a form of ordered anarchy based on social virtues, achievements and institutions which exist prior to government and which are not contingent on political arrangements.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(10)
Part I Excuses	11	(132)
1 Self-contradictory contractarianism	11	(28)
2 Is limited government possible?	39	(25)
3 Frogs' legs, shared ends, and the rationality of politics	64	(9)
4 Values and the social order	73	(32)
5 The twistable is not testable: reflexions on the political thought of Karl Popper	105	(15)
6 Hayek: some missing pieces	120	(11)
7 The rule of forces, the force of rules	131	(12)
Part II Emergent solutions	143	(99)
8 Before resorting to politics	143	(49)
9 Conventions: some thoughts on the economics of ordered anarchy	192	(21)
10 The glass is half-full	213	(5)
11 Liberties, rights, and the standing of groups	218	(24)
Index	242