Contemporary Theories of Liberalism: Public Reason as a Post-Enlightenment Project

Gerald F Gaus

SAGE Publications, Apr 24, 2003 - Political Science - 240 pages

`The author has provided us with a masterful overview and critique of liberal theorizing of the past quarter-century. While dealing exhaustively and fairly with each of a variety of broadly liberal approaches, Gaus also presents a compelling argument for his own preferred "justificatory" approach. His analyses range across familiar territory - Berlin, Gauthier,

Baier, Habermas, social choice theory, Rawls, and so on - and are always

illuminating and, taken together, provide both the newcomer and the old-hand much to ponder' - Fred D'Agostino, University of New England, Armidale

`[A]ll that man is and all that raises him above animals he owes to his reason' - Ludwig von Mises

Contemporary Theories of Liberalism provides students with a comprehensive overview of the key tenets of liberalism developed through Hobbes, Locke, Kant and Rawls to present day theories and debates.

Central to recent debate has been the idea of public reason. The text introduces and explores seven dominant theories of public reason, namely, pluralism, Neo-Hobbesianism, pragmatism, deliberative democracy, political democracy, Rawlsian political liberalism and justificatory liberalism.

As a proponent of justificatory liberalism, Gaus presents an accessible and critical analysis of all contempoary liberal political theory and powerfully illustrates the distinct and importsant contribution of justificatory liberalism.

Contemporary Theories of Liberalism is essential reading for students and academics seeking a deeper understanding of liberal political theory today.

What people are saying

Review: Contemporary Theories of Liberalism: Public Reason as a Post-Enlightenment Project

User Review  - Justin - Goodreads

“Liberalism is first and foremost a theory about freedom of thought.” Contemporary Theories of Liberalism is designed for advanced undergraduate and graduate students. As someone with only a limited ...

About the author

Gerald F. Gaus is Professor of Political Science and Philosophy at the University of Minnesota, Duluth and President of the International Economics and Philosophy Society. He is the author of Value and Justification: The Foundations of Liberal Theory (1990) and The Modern Liberal Theory of Man
(1983).

Bibliographic information

• Title: Contemporary Theories of Liberalism: Public Reason as a Post-Enlightenment Project; SAGE Politics Texts series
• Author: Gerald F Gaus
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: SAGE Publications, 2003
• ISBN: 0761961399, 9780761961390
• Length: 240 pages
• Subjects: Political Science / General; Political Science / History & Theory; Political Science / Political Ideologies / Democracy; Political Science / Public Affairs & Administration; Social Science / General