An Introduction to Political Philosophy

by Wolff, Jonathan

• ISBN13: 9780199296095
• ISBN10: 019929609X
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-03-23
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

The revised edition of this highly successful text provides a clear and accessible introduction to some of the most important questions of political philosophy. Organized around major issues, Wolff provides the structure that beginners need, while also introducing some distinctive ideas of hisown.

Author Biography

Jonathan Wolff is Professor of Philosophy at University College London.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(5)
The State of Nature	6	(28)
Introduction	6	(2)
Hobbes	8	(9)
Locke	17	(7)
Rousseau	24	(5)
Anarchism	29	(3)
Conclusion	32	(2)
Justifying the State	34	(28)
Introduction	34	(5)
The social contract	39	(9)
Utilitarianism	48	(7)
The principle of fairness	55	(4)
Conclusion	59	(3)
Who Should Rule?	62	(42)
Introduction	62	(4)
Plato against democracy	66	(11)
Rousseau and the general will	77	(16)
Representative democracy	93	(8)
Conclusion	101	(3)
The Place of Liberty	104	(29)
Mill on liberty	104	(10)
Justifying the Liberty Principle	114	(11)
Problems with liberalism	125	(6)
Conclusion	131	(2)
The Distribution of Property	133	(44)
The problem of distributive justice	133	(5)
Property and markets	138	(14)
Rawls's theory of justice	152	(16)
Rawls and his critics	168	(8)
Conclusion	176	(1)
Individualism, Justice, Feminism	177	(24)
Individualism and anti-individualism	177	(5)
Rights for women	182	(7)
Transcending liberal individualism?	189	(10)
Final word	199	(2)
Guide to Further Reading	201	(10)
Index	211