Autonomy and Liberalism

by Ben Colburn

Overview

This book concerns the foundations and implications of a particular form of liberal political theory. Colburn argues that one should see liberalism as a political theory committed to the value of autonomy, understood as consisting in an agent deciding for oneself what is valuable and living life in accordance with that decision. Understanding liberalism this way offers solutions to various problems that beset liberal political theory, on various levels. On the theoretical level, Colburn claims that this position is the only defensible theory of liberalism in current circulation, arguing that other more dominant theories are either self-contradictory or unattractive on closer inspection. And on the practical level, Colburn draws out the substantive commitments of this position in educational, economic, and social policy. Hence, the study provides a blueprint for a radical liberal political agenda which will be of interest to philosophers and to politicians alike.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781136996832
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	01/21/2010
Series:	Routledge Studies in Contemporary Philosophy
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	176
File size:	403 KB

About the Author

Ben Colburn isJunior Research Fellow, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and
Affiliated Lecturer, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Cambridge.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments Introduction: What is Liberalism? 1: Three Conceptions of Autonomy 2: A Theory of Autonomy 3: Autonomy and Anti–Perfectionism 4: Autonomy-Minded Liberalism 5: Multicultural Liberalism Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index