An Introduction to Political Philosophy

Cambridge Introductions to Philosophy

by Colin Bird

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.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Politics

322 pages, Paperback

First published December 30, 2002

Reviews

[Bookshark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introductory textbook on political theory that works well at the freshman level in college and would probably also work well for juniors/seniors in high school. The general approach is to introduce students to an array of (most likely new) ideas and show them how to evaluate the arguments for and against these propositions by fleshing out the considerations on each side. The focus is more on teaching this process of reasoning along with some basic ideas rather than ensuring that students have a deep and comprehensive understanding of the thinkers who are discussed (although both goals can be achieved if you also assign primary texts alongside the textbook).

[Jared Donis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The twists and turns of the arguments in each chapter; the overall organization of the topics and their interrelation; and the thoroughness of the analysis are all the admirable features of this book. A book to be chewed slowly.