Equality in Political Philosophy

Fülszöveg

Imaginative yet precise, this lucid work explores the permanent and changing meanings of one of 116 fundamental themes of political philosophy — the idea of equality. It does not pretenc to provide an exhaustive index of egalitarian thought, much less a comprehensive commentary on egalitarianism as a force in social life. It is, instead, a study of the history of an idea from its emergence as a practical ideal of intellectual speculation to recent times, when political philosophy is all but eclipsed by popular ideology and social science. Identifying and tracing the various strands of interpretation, the study demonstrates the remarkable persistence of several concepts of equality, each reflecting a fundamentally different view of human nature and the good society.
After surveying earlier efforts to analyze equality, Mr. Lakoff shows that classical and medieval theories tend to display an ambivalent view of equality and argues that on this ground they must be distinguished from... Tovább

Fülszöveg

Imaginative yet precise, this lucid work explores the permanent and changing meanings of one of 116 fundamental themes of political philosophy — the idea of equality. It does not pretenc to provide an exhaustive index of egalitarian thought, much less a comprehensive commentary on egalitarianism as a force in social life. It is, instead, a study of the history of an idea from its emergence as a practical ideal of intellectual speculation to recent times, when political philosophy is all but eclipsed by popular ideology and social science. Identifying and tracing the various strands of interpretation, the study demonstrates the remarkable persistence of several concepts of equality, each reflecting a fundamentally different view of human nature and the good society.
After surveying earlier efforts to analyze equality, Mr. Lakoff shows that classical and medieval theories tend to display an ambivalent view of equality and argues that on this ground they must be distinguished from later attitudes. The modern theories are then examined in more detail from their first appearance in the Reformation until they acquire, in the nineteenth century, the familiar designations of Liberal, Consei"vadve, and Socialist. Ranging over many centuries, the author reveals what such diverse figures as the theologians Luther and Calvin and the social theorists Hobbes, Mill, and Marx have had to say about egalitarianism, showing particular insight into the young Hegel's use of the dialectic to overcome the contradictions of the Christian ideal. Mr. Lakoff' concludes with a discussion of "equality and the decline of political philosophy" in which he considers the implications of the inquiry for a possible revival of the tradition of political philosophy.
A stimulating account, this book answers a long-felt need in the study of political thought and makes an impressive contribution toward the understanding of its subject.
Sanford A. Lakoff is coauthor of Science and the Nation: Policy and Politics. He teaches government at Harvard University.
Harvard Political Studies HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESS Vissza