Readings in Social and Political Philosophy / Edition 2

by Robert M. Stewart

Overview

This updated edition of a well-established anthology of social and political philosophy combines extensive selections from classical works with significant recent contributions to the field, many of which are not easily available. Its central focus is on the liberal currents in modern Western political thought—variants of classical liberalism, modern liberalism, and libertarianism—with specific focus on differing conceptions of political obligation, freedom, distributive justice, and representative democracy.
The text is organized into four thematic sections: Political Obligation and Consent, Freedom and Coercion, Justice and Equality, and Democracy and Representation, making it easily accessible to students. Each chapter features selections from classical thinkers alongside writings by influential contemporary philosophers and political theorists, thus tracing the historical development and transformation of Western political thought on key issues in the field. Among the classical authors represented in this collection are Plato, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Mill. Contemporary contributors include John Rawls, Isaiah Berlin, Thomas Scanlon, Robert Nozick, Thomas Nagel, Ronald Dworkin, and Hanna Pitkin. Each section is preceded by an introductory overview and followed by a helpful, current bibliography providing guides to further reading.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195095180
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	02/15/1996
Edition description:	REV
Pages:	472
Product dimensions:	9.25(w) x 6.50(h) x 0.82(d)

About the Author

California State University at Chico

Table of Contents

I. Political Obligation and ConsentCrito, PlatoFrom Second Treatise of Civil Government, John LockeOf the Original Contract, David HumeObligation and Consent, II, Hanna F. PitkinThe Principle of Fair Play, A. John SimmonsII. Freedom and CoercionOf the Liberty of Subjects, Thomas HobbesTwo Concepts of Liberty, Isaiah BerlinWhat's Wrong with Negative Liberty, Charles TaylorFrom "On Liberty", John Stuart MillThe "Open Society" and Its Fallacies, Willmoore KendallFreedom of Expression and Categories of Expression, Thomas M. Scanlon, Jr.Liberty and Harm to Others, David LyonsWe Do Not Have a Right To Liberty, Ronald DworkinIII. Justice and EqualityFrom Discourse on the Origin of Inequality, Jean-Jacques RousseauA Kantian Conception of Equality, John RawlsDistributive Justice, John RawlsDistributive Justice, Robert NozickLiberty, Contract, and Contribution, Thomas K. Scanlon, Jr.Equality, Thomas NagelCommunitarian and Liberal Theories of the Good, Jeffrey Paul and Fred D. Miller, Jr.Responsibility, Reactive Attitudes, and Liberalism in Philosophy and Politics, Samuel SchefflerThe Domain of the Political and Overlapping Consensus, John RawlsIV. Democracy and RepresentationFrom Considerations on Representative Government, John Stuart MillOpen Government and Just Legislation: A Defense of Democracy, William N. NelsonA Paradox in the Theory of Democracy, Richard WollheimDemocracy Without Preference, David M. EstlundLosing the Faith: Feminism and Democracy, Susan MendusPolitical Representation, Hanna F. PitkinImplementing Representation: A Framework and Two Applications, Bruce F. Cain and W.T. Jones

Editorial Reviews

"Excellent collection, both in editing of individual selections and in the relationship between classic and contemporary texts."—Jeffrey G. Seward, University of Texas at San Antonio (on the previous edition)

From the Publisher