Social and Political Philosophy: A Contemporary Introduction

by Christman; John

• ISBN13: 9780415217972
• ISBN10: 0415217970
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-07-05
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

This accessible and user-friendly text will prove invaluable to any student coming to social and political philosophy for the first time. It provides a broad survey of fundamental social and political questions in modern society, as well as clear, accessible discussions of the philosophical issues central to political thought. Topics covered include: the foundations of political authority, the nature and grounds of economic justice, the limits of tolerance, considerations of community, race, gender, and culture in questions of justice, and radical critiques of current political theories.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Acknowledgements	xiii
Introduction	1	(22)
The liberal democratic paradigm	6	(3)
Preliminaries I: Method	9	(5)
Preliminaries II: Moral theory and political philosophy	14	(3)
Structure of the book	17	(4)
Chapter summary	21	(1)
Notes on further reading	22	(1)
PART I: BASIC ISSUES WITHIN THE LIBERAL PARADIGM	23	(193)
The Problem of Political Authority	25	(35)
The social contract tradition	26	(2)
Hobbes's social contract: Mechanism, egoism, and rationality	28	(13)
Locke: Reason, morality, and freedom	41	(7)
Lessons from Rousseau and Kant	48	(4)
From consent to legitimacy	52	(4)
Chapter summary	56	(2)
Case to consider	58	(1)
Notes on further reading	58	(2)
Distributive Justice	60	(34)
Distributive justice and equality	61	(4)
Libertarianism	65	(9)
Rawlsian distributive justice	74	(6)
Varieties of egalitarianism	80	(7)
From equality to the welfare state	87	(3)
Chapter summary	90	(2)
Case to consider	92	(1)
Notes on further reading	93	(1)
Toleration, Pluralism, and the Foundations of Liberalism	94	(31)
The canons of liberalism	94	(9)
The perfectionist challenge	103	(5)
Utilitarian liberalism: Perfectionism in disguise?	108	(3)
The response of political liberalism	111	(6)
Liberalism, public discourse, and democracy	117	(2)
Chapter summary	119	(2)
Case to consider	121	(1)
Notes on further reading	121	(4)
PART II: CRITIQUE OF THE LIBERAL PARADIGM: CHALLENGES AND DEPARTURES
Conservatism, Communitarianism, and the Social Conception Of The Self	125	(27)
Conservatism	126	(4)
Communitarianism	130	(15)
Liberalism, freedom, and culture	145	(3)
Chapter summary	148	(1)
Case to consider	149	(1)
Notes on further reading	150	(2)
Race, Gender, and the Politics Of Identity	152	(33)
Ideal theory and ongoing injustice	153	(4)
Critical race theory	157	(6)
Gender, sex, and the challenge of feminism	163	(16)
Identity, injustice, and democracy	179	(1)
Chapter summary	180	(3)
Case to consider	183	(1)
Notes on further reading	184	(1)
Radical Critique: Marxism and Post Modernism	185	(31)
The legacy of Marx and Marxism	186	(13)
Post-modern departures	199	(8)
Epilogue: The hope of liberalism	207	(5)
Chapter summary	212	(1)
Case to consider	213	(1)
Notes on further reading	214	(2)
Notes	216	(14)
Bibliography	230	(15)
Index	245