An Introduction to Political Philosophy

Description

An Introduction to Political Philosophy is a concise, lucid, and thought-provoking introduction to the most important questions of political philosophy, organised around the major issues. Wolff provides the structure that beginners need, whilst also introducing some distinctive ideas of his own.

• Written by the renowned political philosopher, Jo Wolff, this is the most succinct, lucid, and thought-provoking introduction to the key questions and controversies dominating political philosophy.
• Structured around the main issues of political philosophy, Wolff introduces readers to writings from a diverse range of thinkers, helping to make a complex subject readily accessible and stimulating.
• Widely recognised to be a 'classic' text written by a leading scholar, active in contemporary research.

New to this edition

• Revised and updated to diversify the text throughout, in terms of the thinkers considered, the examples used, and the further reading recommended.
• Each chapter, when accessed digitally, includes tutorial-style videos from the author to help students understand the key questions and controversies in political philosophy and encourage them to form their own opinion.
• The final chapter has been expanded to reflect current issues around gender identity, equal rights, and oppression.

About the Author(s)

Jonathan Wolff, Alfred Landecker Professor of Values and Public Policy, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford

Jonathan Wolff is the Alfred Landecker Professor of Values and Public Policy at Blavatnik School of Government, and Governing Body Fellow at Wolfson College, University of Oxford. Professor Wolff has a long-standing interest in equality, disadvantage, social justice, and poverty.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1: The State of Nature
2: Justifying the State
3: Who Should Rule?
4: The Place of Liberty?
5: The Distribution of Property?
6: Justice for Everyone, Everywhere?
Guide to Further Reading

Reviews

"Jonathan Wolff's An Introduction to Political Philosophy is still the best introduction to the subject that I know. It guides the reader through deep questions in a way that is clear, approachable and thought-provoking. " - Professor Michael Rosen, Department of Government, Harvard University, USA

"The best introductory text about political philosophy currently available. The contents are easy for the newcomer to the subject of political philosophy to assimilate. The narrative is clear and thought provoking." - Professor Ian Godfrey Finlayson, European School of Economics, UK

"The go-to teaching guide for the key themes in political philosophy." - Dr Pete Woodcock, University of Huddersfield, UK

"An elegantly written introduction, structured by a topical approach to the field. While introducing canonical authors, the focus is on contemporary problems of political philosophy." - Dr Egbert Klautke, University College London, UK

"A useful and accessible tool to get students thinking clearly about the political and philosophical thought that conditions their understanding of the world." - Dr Michael Kyriacou, The University of East Anglia, UK