An Introduction to Political Philosophy
内容简介
Providing a comprehensive introduction to political philosophy, this 2006 book combines discussion of historical and contemporary figures, together with numerous real-life examples. It ranges over an unusually broad range of topics in the field, including the just distribution of wealth, both within countries and globally; the nature and justification of political authority; the meaning and significance of freedom; arguments for and against democratic rule; the problem of war; and the grounds for toleration in public life. It also offers an accessible, non-technical discussion of perfectionism, utilitarianism, theories of the social contract, and of recently popular forms of critical theory. Throughout, the book challenges readers to think critically about political arguments and institutions that they might otherwise take for granted. It will be a provocative text for any student of philosophy or political science.
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作者简介
Colin Bird, University of Virginia
Colin Bird is Associate Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia. He is the author of The Myth of Liberal Individualism (Cambridge, 1999), and his work has also appeared in numerous major academic journals including Ethics, Philosophy and Public Affairs, The American Political Science Review, Political Theory, Polity, and The European Journal of Philosophy.
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目录
Introduction
Part I. Politics and Critical Morality:
1. Forms of political criticism
2. The common good
3. Classical utilitarianism
4. Utilitarian critical morality: implications and problems
5. The social contract
6. Contractualism 2.0
Part II. Topics in Political Philosophy:
7. Property and wealth
8. Economic justice
9. The significance of borders
10. Responsibility for the environment
11. War
12. Liberty
13. Democratic rule
Part III. Changing the World: Ideal Futures and Past Injustices:
14. Critical enlightenment, ideology, and materialism
15. Ideal theory, race and reparation.
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读书文摘
这场争论会让我们觉得非常不安。民族主义立场尽管是很多人不假思索就会采取的立场，但似乎心胸颇为狭窄，也许还带有种族主义色彩，或者至少也是一种集体性的自私。
如果你真诚地认为多数派做出了一个错误的决定，那么你不仅有权利而且也有义务以任何必要的手段来引起人们的注意。把基于良心的不服从当作叛国，以便维系社会的团结，这确实是错的。持不同意见的公民应该有容身之地。不能为了和平就让他或她保持沉默：或许多数派是错的呢？但是即便多数派是正确的，也仍然应该关注持不同意见者。
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