You and the State: A Fairly Brief Introduction to Political PhilosophyRowman & Littlefield, 2008 - 215 pages Jan Narveson asks the provocative, philosophical question: is the state necessary? In this unusual introduction to political philosophy, Narveson draws on the history of political philosophy and discusses its main theories_classic liberal, democratic, socialist, radical_with reference to how each sees the place of the individual in the political order. Narveson's critique is situated within issues of freedom, authority, economic welfare, international relations and others to explore how and whether the state is necessary. His argument is ultimately anti-statist and takes seriously the question of whether and how some version of anarchism might make sense. |
Contents
What Is Political Philosophy About? Why Do It? | 1 |
Right and Might From the Jungle to Civilized Government? | 25 |
Pushing the Good Conservatism and the Guardian State | 53 |
Classic Liberalism and the Minimal State | 81 |
Democracy All Power to the People? | 115 |
The Modern Regulatory Welfare State | 135 |
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