Lectures on the History of Political PhilosophyThis last book by the late John Rawls, derived from written lectures and notes for his long-running course on modern political philosophy, offers readers an account of the liberal political tradition from a scholar viewed by many as the greatest contemporary exponent of the philosophy behind that tradition. Rawls's goal in the lectures was, he wrote, to identify the more central features of liberalism as expressing a political conception of justice when liberalism is viewed from within the tradition of democratic constitutionalism. He does this by looking at several strands that make up the liberal and democratic constitutional traditions, and at the historical figures who best represent these strands--among them the contractarians Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau; the utilitarians Hume, Sidgwick, and J. S. Mill; and Marx regarded as a critic of liberalism. Rawls's lectures on Bishop Joseph Butler also are included in an appendix. Constantly revised and refined over three decades, Rawls's lectures on these figures reflect his developing and changing views on the history of liberalism and democracy--as well as how he saw his own work in relation to those traditions. With its clear and careful analyses of the doctrine of the social contract, utilitarianism, and socialism--and of their most influential proponents--this volume has a critical place in the traditions it expounds. Marked by Rawls's characteristic patience and curiosity, and scrupulously edited by his student and teaching assistant, Samuel Freeman, these lectures are a fitting final addition to his oeuvre, and to the history of political philosophy as well. |
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Lectures on the history of political philosophy
User Review - Not Available - Book VerdictAfter the publication ofA Theory of Justice in 1971, Rawls (1921-2002) became the most influential moral and political philosopher in the Western world. As such, the issuing of this posthumous volume ... Read full review
Contents
| 1 | |
V | 21 |
VI | 23 |
VII | 41 |
IX | 54 |
XI | 73 |
XII | 94 |
XIII | 101 |
XXXI | 284 |
XXXII | 297 |
XXXIII | 314 |
XXXIV | 317 |
XXXV | 319 |
XXXVI | 335 |
XXXVII | 354 |
XXXVIII | 375 |
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Common terms and phrases
amour de soi argument artificial basic benefit Bentham Butler capitalism capitalist citizens civil conception of justice conflict conscience consent constitution covenant defined definition democratic desires discussion doctrine equal factor of production find first fit freedom fundamental interests fundamental law God’s happiness historical Hobbes Hobbes’s view human nature Hume Hume’s idea individual inequality influence intuitionism J. S. Mill John Rawls justice as fairness Kant kind labor law of nature lecture legitimate Leviathan liberty Locke Locke’s Locke’s view Marx Marx’s means Methods of Ethics Mill Mill’s moral moral psychology notion one’s person pleasures political and social political authority political philosophy principle of utility production profit psychological question rational Rawls Rawls’s reason reflection regime role Rousseau rules says self-love sense Sidgwick significant social compact Social Contract society specific sufficient surplus surplus value theory things thought tion Treatise University Press unjust utilitarianism virtue
Bibliographic information
| Title | Lectures on the History of Political Philosophy |
| Author | John Rawls |
| Editor | Samuel Freeman |
| Publisher | Harvard University Press, 2009 |
| ISBN | 0674042565, 9780674042568 |
| Length | 496 pages |
| Subjects | › › Philosophy / Ethics & Moral Philosophy Philosophy / History & Surveys / Modern Philosophy / Political |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |