ABSTRACT

Gellner's political philosophy in these volumes combines the down-to-earth realism of political sociology with a rational treatment of the normative issues of traditional political thought. In these essays Gellner strives to understand the religions of nationalism, communism and democracy, returning again and again to the basic values of the liberal: social tolerance, rational criticism, human decency and justice.

chapter Chapter 1|7 pages

Prepare to meet thy doom

A sermon on the ambivalences of progress, reason, liberty, equality and fraternity

chapter Chapter 2|12 pages

Myth, ideology and revolution

chapter Chapter 3|22 pages

Democracy and industrialization

chapter Chapter 4|25 pages

Contemporary thought and politics

chapter Chapter 5|4 pages

Behind the barricades at LSE

chapter Chapter 6|14 pages

The panther and the dove

The panther and the dove Reflections on rebelliousness and its milieux

chapter Chapter 7|8 pages

How to live in anarchy

chapter Chapter 8|18 pages

The concept of a story 1

chapter Chapter 9|20 pages

Our current sense of history

chapter Chapter 10|8 pages

Ernst Kolman: or, knowledge and communism

chapter Chapter 11|17 pages

Scale and nation

chapter Chapter 12|16 pages

The pluralist anti-levellers of Prague

chapter Chapter 13|7 pages

The dangers of tolerance

chapter Chapter 14|11 pages

On democracy in France

chapter |1 pages

Sources