Political Philosophy
The Fundamentals
Fundamentals of Philosophy
1. Auflage April 2025
256 Seiten, Softcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
A wide-ranging and up-to-date survey of the leading ideas and debates in political philosophy
Political Philosophy: The Fundamentals introduces core topics within the field by engaging students in seminal works in both contemporary philosophy and the history of political thought. Requiring no previous background in the subject, this clear and comprehensible textbook equips readers with the necessary context for understanding different philosophical perspectives.
Through eight succinct chapters, Thom Brooks highlights important contributions made from political philosophers from the past and present to connect the history of political thought with ongoing debates. Readers gain insights into various conceptions about the nature of freedom, different ways of understanding equality, longstanding debates over punishment, questions concerning the value of human rights, issues of global justice and severe poverty, approaches to handling climate change and much more.
Helping readers develop informed opinions on central issues, Political Philosophy: The Fundamentals:
* Discusses divergent views about the different forms and limits of freedom that philosophers have defended over time
* Provides a historical perspective of contemporary understandings of human rights and their origins in natural law and natural rights
* Illustrates the multiple ways that freedom has been understood, including commonalities and differences
* Examines various ways of implementing equality and assessing their merits
* Covers influential work by John Rawls that envisions a well-ordered society governed by principles of justice
Featuring carefully selected further readings in each chapter, Political Philosophy: The Fundamentals is essential reading for undergraduate students and general readers interested in the historical development and present-day debates over political ideas and institutions.
Introduction 1
I. 1 What Is Philosophy? 1
I. 2 What Is Political Philosophy? 2
I. 3 Making Political Thought Coherent 9
I. 4 This Book 10
I. 5 Conclusion 12
1 Freedom 14
1.1 Introduction 14
1.2 Knowing Freedom 15
1.3 Contemporary Freedom 20
1.4 Choices and Options 21
1.5 Theories of Freedom 23
1.6 Are Different Theories About Freedom Compatible? 30
1.7 Paternalism 34
1.8 Conclusion 37
Further Reading 37
2 Rights 38
2.1 Introduction 38
2.2 The Divine Right of Kings 39
2.3 Natural Rights 41
2.4 What Are Rights? 44
2.5 A Taxonomy of Rights 49
2.6 Human Rights 51
2.7 Capabilities and Human Rights 55
2.8 Group Rights and Mutual Recognition 59
2.9 Animal Rights 62
2.10 Conclusion 65
Further Reading 66
3 Equality 67
3.1 Introduction 67
3.2 Formal Equality 68
3.3 Legal Equality 70
3.4 Political and Social Equality 75
3.5 Economic Equality 84
3.6 Conclusion 91
Further Reading 92
4 Justice 93
4.1 Introduction 93
4.2 Deontology 94
4.3 Consequentialism 97
4.4 Moral Sentiments 101
4.5 The Idea of a Social Contract 105
4.6 Rawls's Theory of Justice 109
4.7 Rawls's Political Liberalism 116
4.8 The Capabilities Approach 119
4.9 Feminist Justice 122
4.10 The Stakeholder Society 125
4.11 Conclusion 128
Further Reading 128
5 Democracy 129
5.1 Introduction 129
5.2 Why Democracy? 130
5.3 Democratic Models 135
5.4 A Role for Experts? 150
5.5 Conclusion 154
Further Reading 154
6 Punishment 155
6.1 Introduction 155
6.2 Defining Punishment 156
6.3 Retribution 158
6.4 Deterrence 167
6.5 Rehabilitation and Restoration 170
6.6 Unified Theory of Punishment 175
6.7 Conclusion 180
Further Reading 180
7 Global Justice 181
7.1 Introduction 181
7.2 Liberal Nationalism 182
7.3 Cosmopolitanism 185
7.4 Tackling Severe Poverty 190
7.5 Conclusion 200
Further Reading 201
8 Climate Change 202
8.1 Introduction 202
8.2 Mitigation 204
8.3 Adaptation 211
8.4 Rethinking Sustainability 214
8.5 Conclusion 216
Further Reading 217
Conclusion 218
References 220
Index 233
