What Is Political Philosophy?

Charles Larmore

Published by Princeton University Press 2020

What Is Political Philosophy?

Charles Larmore

https://doi.org/10.1515/9780691200873

Overview
Contents

About this book

A new understanding of political philosophy from one of its leading thinkers

What is political philosophy? What are its fundamental problems? And how should it be distinguished from moral philosophy? In this book, Charles Larmore redefines the distinctive aims of political philosophy, reformulating in this light the basis of a liberal understanding of politics.

Because political life is characterized by deep and enduring conflict between rival interests and differing moral ideals, the core problems of political philosophy are the regulation of conflict and the conditions under which the members of society may thus be made subject to political authority. We cannot assume that reason will lead to unanimity about these matters because individuals hold different moral convictions. Larmore therefore analyzes the concept of reasonable disagreement and investigates the ways we can adjudicate conflicts between those who reasonably disagree about the nature of the human good and the proper basis of political society. Challenging both the classical liberalism of Locke, Kant, and Mill, and more recent theories of political realism proposed by Bernard Williams and others, Larmore argues for a version of political liberalism that is centered on political legitimacy, rather than on social justice, and that aims to be well suited to our times, rather than universally valid.

Forceful and thorough yet concise, What Is Political Philosophy? proposes a new definition of political philosophy and demonstrates the profound implications of that definition. The result is a compelling and distinctive intervention from a major political philosopher.

Author / Editor information

Charles Larmore is professor of philosophy and the W. Duncan MacMillan Family Professor in the Humanities at Brown University. His previous works include The Autonomy of Morality and The Practices of the Self.

Reviews

"Larmore is one of our finest political philosophers and this book displays his insight, sweep, and rigor."—Leif Wenar, King's College London

"Larmore's picture of our discipline is original and compelling, and the contrast with both moralism and realism is illuminating."—Jonathan Quong, University of Southern California

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Acknowledgments Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
1. The Relation between Political and Moral Philosophy Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	18
2. The Truth in Political Realism Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	68
3. Political Liberalism and Legitimacy Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	122
Conclusion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	172
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	179
A NOTE ON THE TYPE Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	183