ABSTRACT

In Search of a Political Philosophy is an analysis of the three democratic `isms' - conservatism, liberalism and socialism - and of the distinct nature of the all-devouring ideology - Marxist communism. The author is concerned with the conscious and unconscious assumptions of the proponents and followers of each ideology, and those of their theoreticians and critics.

part |87 pages

Prudential conservatism

chapter |15 pages

Norms and relativism

chapter |11 pages

‘Progress' and change

chapter |21 pages

Freedom and authority

chapter |12 pages

Prudence and politics

chapter |14 pages

The Burkean legacy

chapter |12 pages

The nature of government

part |101 pages

Empty liberalism

chapter |17 pages

The liberal tradition

chapter |35 pages

The liberal mosaic

chapter |19 pages

Distributive justice

chapter |11 pages

Equality of opportunity

A liberal shibboleth

part |101 pages

Hedonistic socialism

chapter |15 pages

What is socialism?

chapter |19 pages

Socialism and freedom

chapter |15 pages

Freedom in democracy

chapter |20 pages

Marxist impact on socialism

chapter |16 pages

Return to utopianism

part |96 pages

The tyranny of ideology

part |22 pages

Conclusion

chapter |5 pages

Postscript