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 Teach Yourself
Political Philosophy provides a general introduction to the subject,
and is particularly suitable for students at A Level - whether taking
Philosophy, Politics and Government, or General Studies.
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It is readable and with a light touch, although covering
the ground in terms of background knowledge for academic
study.
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It
shows how an awareness of political philosophy helps to
disentangle and clarify everyday political issues.
Here is the opening of the book, which sets key
qestions for this branch of philosophy...
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What
is the good life, and how is it achieved?
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How
does politics contribute to the well-being or otherwise of
humankind?
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What
sort of society will best allow its citizens to flourish?
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What
do we really mean by equality, justice, freedom and so on?
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Is it
ever right to go to war, or to rebel against a government?
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What
responsibility should governments have for the global issues
or terrorist or the environment?
Full list of
contents:
1. Introduction
What is political philosophy?
An historical perspective
How do you decide what is right?
Justification, not just clarification
The modern agenda
The structure of this book
2. Looking for
the Good Life
Why ancient Greece?
Plato and the Good
Aristotle’s
political options
Cynics, Stoics
and Epicureans
Mediaeval
otherworldliness
Renaissance
realism
3. The Social
Contract
Contracts, dilemmas and war games
Hobbes: an alternative to chaos
Locke and the principles of democracy
Rousseau: the tyranny of the General Will
Still relevant?
4. Ideas and
Ideologies
Background – a changing world
Liberalism
Conservatism
Socialism
Communism
Nationalism and Fascism
Anarchism
The future of ideologies?
5. Equality and
fairness
Utilitarianism and Capitalism
Distributive justice
Rawls and fairness
Equality of self-direction and moral regard
Monochrome conformity?
Democracy
6. Freedom
Negative freedom
Positive freedom
Freedom and the law
7. Rights Justice
and the Law
Justice handed down?
Rights
Political authority
Legislation
8. Gender and
Culture
The Essence of Womankind
The female perspective
Women and representation
Women and freedom
Image, reality and distinctiveness
Multiculturalism
Postmodern
politics
9. Nations, War
and Terrorism
States
What should the state do?
Sovereignty, identity and representation
The just war theory
Terrorism
10. The Global
Perspective
The International Dimension
Sovereign states?
Global networks
Moral and Religious perspectives
Politics and the
Environment
Postscript: What
hope humankind?
Taking it
further
Glossary
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