Political Philosophy: An Historical Introduction by Michael White (English) Pape

The Nile on eBay   Political Philosophy by Michael White

This historical survey of political philosophy explores the theme of how political philosophy relates to the nature of man. It illustrates how great political thinkers have always grounded their political thought in what the author terms a "normative anthropology," which typically has not only ethical but also metaphysical or theological components.

FORMATPaperback LANGUAGEEnglish CONDITIONBrand New Publisher Description

From Greek antiquity to the latest theories, this historical survey of political philosophy not only covers the major thinkers in the field but also explores the theme of how political philosophy relates to the nature of man. It illustrates how the great political thinkers have always grounded their political thought in what the author terms a "normative anthropology," which typically has not only ethical but metaphysical and/or theological components. Starting withthe ancient Greek Sophists, author Michael J. White examines how thinkers over the centuries have approached such political and philosophical concerns as justice, morality, and human flourishing,offering substantial studies of--among others--Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Locke, Hobbes, Rousseau, Marx, and J. S. Mill. White highlights the impact of Christianity on political philosophy, illustrating the diversity of that impact by studies of Augustine, Aquinas, and Marsilius of Padua. Concluding with an in-depth analysis of John Rawls and contemporary liberal political philosophy, this text blends insight and information in a refreshing and useful manner. A brief Epilogue considers both thevalue and the limitations of political philosophy and its study.

Notes

This historical survey of political philosophy explores the theme of how it relates to the nature of man.

Author Biography

Michael White is Professor of Philosophy, Arizona State University

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments and Preface to Second EditionChapter 1. IntroductionPolitics and Human NatureThe Idea of Human Nature or the Human Good as 'Function': Normative AnthropologyMy 'Story' of Political Philosophy-and my Cast of CharactersEnduring Issues in Political PhilosophyChapter 2. Classical Greek Political Philosophy: BeginningsNature or Nurture?Protagoras' Democratic TraditionalismThe Functionalistic Foundation of the Political Aretai in Nature (physis)Glaucon's Contractarian Political TheoryChapter 3. Plato: Government for Corrupted IntellectsSocrates' Polis of PigsThe 'Republic' of Plato's RepublicThe Human Ergon and the Purpose of Political OrganizationFurthering Rationality by Means of the Polis?Why Should Anyone Return to the Cave?Plato and 'the Rule of Law'Chapter 4. Aristotle: Politics as the Master ArtThe Human Good: Intellectual and PoliticalActing Correctly (eupraxia) as a Grand End?The Polis as a Complete CommunityThe Role of Politics: The Master Art?Concluding ThoughtsChapter 5. Cicero: The Cosmic Significance of PoliticsCicero as Champion of the Res PublicaWhat is Right (ius): The Rule of Law (lex) and Normative AnthropologyVirtues, Duties, and LawsChapter 6. Christianity: A Political Religion?The New Testament and BeyondPauline CosmopolitanismThe Roman Empire ChristianizedThe Advent of Tempora Christiana (the Christian era)Chapter 7. Augustine, Aquinas and Marsilius of Padua: Politics for Saints, Sinners, and HereticsSt. AugustineThe Two Rationales of Augustine's City of GodThe Two CitiesTheoretical Political ConsequencesChristians as Good Citizens of Secular States?St. Thomas AquinasThe Human Function: Nature and PraeternatureThe 'Parts' of the Eternal Law: Divine, Natural, and Human LawPolitical Forms, Procedures, and Other ParticularsAquinas' Political Philosophy: Some Concluding ObservationsMarsilius of PaduaThe Autonomous but Coercive Regnum (Political Community) and its LawThe Political Wisdom and Authority of the Whole Body of Citizens (or the weightier part thereof)Chapter 8. Hobbes and Locke: Seventeenth-Century ContractarianismThomas Hobbes: Natural Law Simplified and ModernizedNatural Law, Natural Rights, and the Human FunctionLaw, Contracts, and the 'Leviathan'The Civil State: Sovereigns and SubjectsConcluding Thoughts on God and SovereignsJohn Locke: Divinely Mandated Autonomy, Natural Rights, and PropertyMoral Knowledge and Human MotivationThe State of Nature and the Social ContractProperty and Liberal Political Theory: Lockean OriginsChapter 9. Rousseau and Marx: Reaction to Bourgeois-LiberalismJean-Jacques Rousseau: Autonomous Citizens for the true RepublicThe Intertwined Development of Civilization, Corruption, and MoralityThe Social Contract and the Émile: Republics and Republican CitizensPolitics and the Human FunctionKarl Marx: Distortion of the Human Function within the Bourgeois-Liberal StatePolitical Emancipation and the Bourgeois-Liberal StateAlienation and the Human FunctionHistorical Materialism and the Coming of CommunismConcluding Thoughts: The Cook Shops of the Future Made PresentChapter 10. Mill and Rawls: Liberalism Ascendant?John Stuart Mill: Perfectionist LiberalismMill's LiberalismLiberty and GovernmentDemocratic RepublicanismConcluding Thought on Mill and LiberalismJohn Rawls: Political (and Non-Perfectionist?) LiberalismEgalitarian Justice as the "First Virtue of Social Institutions": Basic AssumptionsRawls' Two Principles of Justice: What they Apply to and WhyConsensus, Public Reason, and the Distinction between Citoyen and BourgeoisThe Ultimate Justification of Rawlsian liberalism?EpilogueNotes

Review

"This book is a challenging book, in the best sense. White's central thesis, while controversial, is nevertheless important, consistently argued -- both historically and philosophically, and presented in a thoroughly engaging manner."--Philosophy in Review"A masterpiece of clear thinking, this well-written text will challenge many to reflect more closely on matters often too quickly decided. The result is more than one might ever have expected of an introductory text of this size; indeed a better introduction to the subject is hard to imagine."--Alastair Hannay, University of Oslo

Promotional

This historical survey of political philosophy explores the theme of how political philosophy relates to the nature of man.

Long Description

From Greek antiquity to the latest theories, this historical survey of political philosophy not only covers the major thinkers in the field but also explores the theme of how political philosophy relates to the nature of man. It illustrates how the great political thinkers have always grounded their political thought in what the author terms a "normative anthropology," which typically has not only ethical but metaphysical and/or theological components. Starting withthe ancient Greek Sophists, author Michael J. White examines how thinkers over the centuries have approached such political and philosophical concerns as justice, morality, and human flourishing, offering substantial studies of--among others--Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Locke, Hobbes, Rousseau, Marx,and J. S. Mill. White highlights the impact of Christianity on political philosophy, illustrating the diversity of that impact by studies of Augustine, Aquinas, and Marsilius of Padua. Concluding with an in-depth analysis of John Rawls and contemporary liberal political philosophy, this text blends insight and information in a refreshing and useful manner. A brief Epilogue considers both the value and the limitations of political philosophy and its study.

Review Text

"This book is a challenging book, in the best sense. White's central thesis, while controversial, is nevertheless important, consistently argued -- both historically and philosophically, and presented in a thoroughly engaging manner."--Philosophy in Review"A masterpiece of clear thinking, this well-written text will challenge many to reflect more closely on matters often too quickly decided. The result is more than one might ever have expected of an introductory text of this size; indeed a better introduction to the subject is hard to imagine."--Alastair Hannay, University of Oslo

Review Quote

"This book is a challenging book, in the best sense. White's central thesis, while controversial, is nevertheless important, consistently argued -- both historically and philosophically, and presented in a thoroughly engaging manner."--Philosophy in Review"A masterpiece of clear thinking, this well-written text will challenge many to reflect more closely on matters often too quickly decided. The result is more than one might ever have expected of an introductory text of this size; indeed a better introduction to the subject is hard to imagine."--Alastair Hannay, University of Oslo

Feature

Selling point: Begins with the ancient Greek SophistsSelling point: Examines political and philosophical concerns such as justice and moralitySelling point: Studies prominent thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Locke, Hobbes, Rousseau, Marx, J.S. MillSelling point: Highlights the impact of Christianity on political philosophySelling point: Concludes with an in-depth analysis of John Rawls and contemporary liberal political philosophy

New Feature

Acknowledgments and Preface to Second Edition Chapter 1. Introduction Politics and Human Nature The Idea of Human Nature or the Human Good as ''Function'': Normative Anthropology My ''Story'' of Political Philosophy-and my Cast of Characters Enduring Issues in Political Philosophy Chapter 2. Classical Greek Political Philosophy: Beginnings Nature or Nurture? Protagoras'' Democratic Traditionalism The Functionalistic Foundation of the Political Aretai in Nature (physis) Glaucon''s Contractarian Political Theory Chapter 3. Plato: Government for Corrupted Intellects Socrates'' Polis of Pigs The ''Republic'' of Plato''s Republic The Human Ergon and the Purpose of Political Organization Furthering Rationality by Means of the Polis? Why Should Anyone Return to the Cave? Plato and ''the Rule of Law'' Chapter 4. Aristotle: Politics as the Master Art The Human Good: Intellectual and Political Acting Correctly (eupraxia) as a Grand End? The Polis as a Complete Community The Role of Politics: The Master Art? Concluding Thoughts Chapter 5. Cicero: The Cosmic Significance of Politics Cicero as Champion of the Res Publica What is Right (ius): The Rule of Law (lex) and Normative Anthropology Virtues, Duties, and Laws Chapter 6. Christianity: A Political Religion? The New Testament and Beyond Pauline Cosmopolitanism The Roman Empire Christianized The Advent of Tempora Christiana (the Christian era) Chapter 7. Augustine, Aquinas and Marsilius of Padua: Politics for Saints, Sinners, and Heretics St. Augustine The Two Rationales of Augustine''s City of God The Two Cities Theoretical Political Consequences Christians as Good Citizens of Secular States? St. Thomas Aquinas The Human Function: Nature and Praeternature The ''Parts'' of the Eternal Law: Divine, Natural, and Human Law Political Forms, Procedures, and Other Particulars Aquinas'' Political Philosophy: Some Concluding Observations Marsilius of Padua The Autonomous but Coercive Regnum (Political Community) and its Law The Political Wisdom and Authority of the Whole Body of Citizens (or the weightier part thereof) Chapter 8. Hobbes and Locke: Seventeenth-Century Contractarianism Thomas Hobbes: Natural Law Simplified and Modernized Natural Law, Natural Rights, and the Human Function Law, Contracts, and the ''Leviathan'' The Civil State: Sovereigns and Subjects Concluding Thoughts on God and Sovereigns John Locke: Divinely Mandated Autonomy, Natural Rights, and Property Moral Knowledge and Human Motivation The State of Nature and the Social Contract Property and Liberal Political Theory: Lockean Origins Chapter 9. Rousseau and Marx: Reaction to Bourgeois-Liberalism Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Autonomous Citizens for the true Republic The Intertwined Development of Civilization, Corruption, and Morality The Social Contract and the mile: Republics and Republican Citizens Politics and the Human Function Karl Marx: Distortion of the Human Function within the Bourgeois-Liberal State Political Emancipation and the Bourgeois-Liberal State Alienation and the Human Function Historical Materialism and the Coming of Communism Concluding Thoughts: The Cook Shops of the Future Made Present Chapter 10. Mill and Rawls: Liberalism Ascendant? John Stuart Mill: Perfectionist Liberalism Mill''s Liberalism Liberty and Government Democratic Republicanism Concluding Thought on Mill and Liberalism John Rawls: Political (and Non-Perfectionist?) Liberalism Egalitarian Justice as the "First Virtue of Social Institutions": Basic Assumptions Rawls'' Two Principles of Justice: What they Apply to and Why Consensus, Public Reason, and the Distinction between Citoyen and Bourgeois The Ultimate Justification of Rawlsian liberalism? Epilogue Notes

Details ISBN0199860513 Short Title POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY 2/E Language English Edition 2nd ISBN-10 0199860513 ISBN-13 9780199860517 Media Book Format Paperback DEWEY 320.01 Year 2012 Subtitle An Historical Introduction Illustrations black & white illustrations Publication Date 2012-06-14 Imprint Oxford University Press Inc Place of Publication New York Country of Publication United States UK Release Date 2012-06-14 AU Release Date 2012-06-14 NZ Release Date 2012-06-14 US Release Date 2012-06-14 Author Michael White Pages 448 Publisher Oxford University Press Inc Edition Description 2nd Revised edition Audience Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly We've got this

At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it.With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love!

TheNile_Item_ID:118503701;