ABSTRACT

This textbook reflects the buoyant state of contemporary political philosophy, and the development of the subject in the past two decades. It includes seminal papers on fundamental philosophical issues such as:
the nature of social explanation
distributive justice
liberalism and communitarianism
citizenship and multiculturalism
nationalism
democracy
criminal justice.
A range of views is represented, demonstrating the richness of the philosophical contribution to some of the most contested areas of public policy and political decision making. Each section has an introduction by the editors that situates the papers in the ongoing debate. Further Reading sections feature at the end of each chapter.
Readings from the following thinkers are included:
Steven Lukes, Robert Nozick, John Rawls, Bhikhu Parekh, Antony Duff, G.A. Cohen, Derek Parfit, Roger Scruton, Michael Sandel, Alasdair MacIntrye.
Debates in Contemporary Political Philosophy will be a valuable resource for upper-level students interested in current thinking in this area.

chapter 1|4 pages

INTRODUCTION

chapter |7 pages

Part 1

chapter 2|10 pages

METHODOLOGICAL INDIVIDUALISM

chapter 3|19 pages

Marxism, functionalism, and game theory: a case for methodological individualism

The case for methodological individualism

chapter |6 pages

Part 2

chapter 6|9 pages

DISTRIBUTIVE JUSTICE

chapter 7|18 pages

EQUALITY AS A MORAL IDEAL

chapter 8|15 pages

WHERE THE ACTION IS

On the site of distributive justice

chapter 9|18 pages

Equality and priority DEREK PARFIT

chapter |7 pages

Part 3 Liberalism and communitarianism

chapter 12|13 pages

COMMUNITARIAN CRITICS OF LIBERALISM*

chapter |6 pages

Part 4 Citizenship and multiculturalism

chapter 14|20 pages

Polity and group difference: a critique of the ideal of universal citizenship

A critique of the ideal of universal

chapter 16|17 pages

THEORIES OF GROUP RIGHTS

chapter |6 pages

Part 5 Nationalism

chapter 17|15 pages

IN DEFENCE OF THE NATION

chapter 18|15 pages

IS PATRIOTISM A VIRTUE?

chapter |18 pages

IN DEFENCE OF NATIONALITY

chapter |6 pages

Part 6

chapter 20|17 pages

THE MARKET AND THE FORUM

Three varieties of political theory

chapter 22|20 pages

PHILOSOPHY AND DEMOCRACY

chapter |6 pages

Part 7

chapter 24|15 pages

PUNISHMENT, PENANCE AND THE STATE

A reply to Duff

chapter |5 pages

RESPONSE TO VON HIRSCH