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Providing a comprehensive introduction to political philosophy, this 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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This page intentionally left blank An Introduction to Political Philosophy This book provides a comprehensive introduction to political philosophy. Combining discussion of historical and contemporary figures, together with numerous real-life examples, it covers 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 and political science. colin bird is Associate Professor at the Woodrow Wilson Department of Politics, University of Virginia. He is author of The Myth of Liberal Individualism (1999). An Introduction to Political Philosophy COLIN BIRD University of Virginia cambridge university press Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, São Paulo Cambridge University Press The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge cb2 2ru, UK Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New York www.cambridge.org Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9780521836258 © Colin Bird 2006 This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provision of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press. First published in print format 2006 isbn-13 isbn-10 978-0-511-25797-1 eBook (Adobe Reader) 0-511-25797-X eBook (Adobe Reader) isbn-13 isbn-10 978-0-521-83625-8 hardback 0-521-83625-5 hardback isbn-13 isbn-10 978-0-521-54482-5 paperback 0-521-54482-3 paperback Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of urls for external or third-party internet websites referred to in this publication, and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate. To Adrienne, Nicholas, Teddy, and Tatiana Contents Preface Introduction Part I Politics and justification page ix 1 11 1 The puzzle of justification 13 2 The common good 33 3 Utilitarianism 47 4 The social contract 67 Part II Topics in political philosophy 5 Property and wealth 97 99 6 Economic justice 125 7 Authority 154 8 Liberty 176