Political Philosophy

by Jean E. Hampton

Political philosophy, perhaps even more than other branches of philosophy, calls for constant renewal to reflect not just re-readings of the tradition but also the demands of current events. In this lively and readable survey, Jean Hampton has created a text for our time that does justice both to the great traditions of the field and to the newest developments. In a marvelous feat of synthesis, she links the classical tradition, the giants of the modern period, the dominant topics of the twentieth century, and the new questions and concerns that are just beginning to rewrite contemporary political philosophy.Hampton presents these traditions in an engaging and accessible manner, adding to them her own views and encouraging readers to critically examine a range of ideas and to reach their own conclusions. Of particular interest are the discussions of the contemporary liberalism-communitarianism debates, the revival of interest in issues of citizenship and nationality, and the way in which feminist concerns are integrated into all these discussions.Political Philosophy is the most modern text on the topic now available, the ideal guide to what is going on in the field. It will be welcomed by scholars and students in philosophy and political science, and it will serve as an introduction for readers from outside these fields.

Genres: Philosophy, Politics, Nonfiction

294 pages, Paperback

First published October 22, 1996

Reviews

[Hesam]

جین همپتن در این کتاب به بهانه دو موضوع "ماهیت فرمانروایی سیاسی" و نیز "حدود فرمانروایی سیاسی" در دولتی عادل به شرح و بسط نظریه های لیبرال می پردازد.

[Billie Pritchett]

Jean Hampton's Political Philosophy is an introduction the philosophical study of politics, with all the sorts of topics one would find in an introductory political philosophy class. To make the subject manageable, the first half of the book gives some definition to what a political authority ('the State,' 'the government,' whatever you want to call it) is, and the second half of the book is about issues related to a just political society. Regarding Hampton's own positions, she argues that a political authority is an institution that adjudicates coordination problems among individuals both in individuals' tendencies to compete and to cooperate with one another. According to Hampton, a political authority is deemed just when people agree that the authority's judgments or proceedings are more or less sound. The latter half of the book is a lot thornier, especially given that people cannot seem to agree what constitutes a just society. Hampton believes that minimally the members of the society need to be looked upon as free and equal persons, but the Devil is in the details in how to provide for them. Interesting concrete questions come up at the end of the book about what citizenship amounts to, and what a nation and nation-state is. Good read.

[Arash kh]

واقعا کتاب خوبی است. کتاب به سوال مهم می پردازد ماهیت فرمانروایی سیاسی چیست و حدود آن تا کجاست. در این باره به بیان نظریات مختلف می پردازد و سپس وارد مهم ترین مقوله یعنی عدالت می گردد و آن را از دیدگاه های متفاوت لیبرالی (آن هم با بیان انواع ان) جماعت گرایی سوسیالیستی و فمینیستی .... می پردازد. نویسنده به انواع شهروندی و سیاست های فرمانروایی در قبال آن پرداخته و ایرادهایی بر آن نظریات اقامه می کند. مطالعه آن را به علاقمندان اندیشه های سیاسی پیشنهاد می کنم.

[بهمن]

I have read Persian translation of this book.

[Ehsan Mousavi]

کتاب مروری گزینشی بر مکاتب فلسفه سیاسی ارائه می‌دهد و گاه بیش از آنکه تحلیلی باشد، به گردآوری دیدگاه‌ها برای تکمیل چارچوب نظری نویسنده شباهت پیدا می‌کند.
ارجاع به سنت‌های مختلف از مارکسیسم تا لیبرالیسم و جمهوری افلاطونی بیشتر در مقام مثال ظاهر می‌شود تا گفت‌وگوی عمیق میان این مکاتب.
در نتیجه اثر از نظر معرفی دیدگاه‌ها مفید است، اما در ارائه استدلال منسجم و متوازن درباره مشروعیت قدرت سیاسی چندان قانع‌کننده نیست.

[CJ]

solid intro 2 political philosophy. not much more to say. i’m not very fluent in philosopher-speak so some of her theory was lost on me .

[Lucid K.]

read for my social + political philosophy class, not bad.

[Paul]

I love this book! Jean Hampton provides a thorough survey of political theories addressing pertinent questions like the nature and justification of political authority, conceptions of justice, and conceptions of citizenship. She maps out this rich and fascinating philosophical landscape from the starting point of trying to respond to the anarchist challenge of whether any political authority is ever legitimate. But her book reads more like a compelling story of interesting ideas being developed in response to urgent political concerns rather than some dry, boring textbook with a Ben Steinian rhythm to its prose. This book will no doubt be a constant companion in my philosophical pursuits. And I must also read everything that Jean Hampton has ever written!

[Pejman]

this is the third time that i read this book. the author, has chosen a new angle to look on the issue of political philosophy, though she, in some point, intention her feminine attitudes in her work.

[Naazanin]

کتاب خوب و کاملیه تقریبا و نظریه هارو خوب به هم ربط داده اما یه مقداری دیرفهمه...