Liberalism at the Crossroads: An Introduction to Contemporary Liberal Political Theory and Its Critics / Edition 2

by Christopher Wolfe, J Brian Benestad, Gerard V. Bradley Professor of Law, University of Notre Dame, Robert P. George Visiting Professor, Harvard Law School; McCormick Professor of Jurisprudenc, Terry Hall

Overview

Liberalism at the Crossroads offers succinct, accessible, and well-written surveys of the ideas of the leading participants in the contemporary philosophical debate about liberalism. Christopher Wolfe brings together analyses of leading liberal thinkers from across the spectrum as well as influential critics of liberalism, including John Rawls, Ronald Dworkin, Robert Nozick, Michael Sandel, Richard Rorty, Joseph Raz, and William Galston.

For the second edition, each chapter has been thoroughly revised, and new chapters on Susan Moller Okin, Richard Posner, and John Finnis have been added to include representatives of liberal feminism, law and economics, and natural law. The result is an invaluable overview of contemporary political theory, ideal for both students and scholars.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780742532717
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	08/04/2003
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	5.74(w) x 9.04(h) x 0.56(d)

About the Author

Christopher Wolfe is professor of political science at Marquette University, and president of the American Public Philosophy Institute. He is the author of The Rise of Modern Judicial Review, Judicial Activism, and editor (with Robert George) of Natural Law and Public Reason.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Preface to the Second Edition Chapter 2 Introduction to the First Edition Chapter 3 The Liberalism of John Rawls: A Brief Exposition Chapter 4 The Egalitarian Liberalism of Ronald Dworkin Chapter 5 The Hegemonic Liberalism of Susan Moller Okin Chapter 6 Robert Nozick and the Foundations of Political Individualism Chapter 7 Richard Posner: Pragmatist, Classical Liberal, and Legal Anti-Positivist Chapter 8 Beyond the Procedural Republic: The Communitarian Liberalism of Michael Sandel Chapter 9 Alasdair MacIntyre: Recovering the Rationality of Traditions Chapter 10 Inescapably a Liberalist: Richard Rorty as Social Theorist Chapter 11 The Unorthodox Liberalism of Joseph Raz Chapter 12 William Galston’s Defense of Liberalism: Forging Unity amid Diversity Chapter 13 The New Natural Law Theory of John Finnis

Editorial Reviews

It is a terrific book....At a time when many visions of liberalism are vying for a dominance, Christopher Wolfe and John Hittinger do a great service by collecting these interpretive essays on leading expositors and critics of contemporary liberal theory. Much of the interest of the book derives from the fact that the essayists themselves are major thinkers whose ideas are likely to shape or chasten the liberalisms of the future.

Mary Ann Glendon

...a collection of well-informed critical essays about leading contemporary theories of political liberalism. It is a valuable introduction to a philosophical debate of great current importance.

Lloyd L. Weinreb

The 'crisis of liberalism'is incessantly discussed, but seldom have we been treated to such a lucid examination of why liberalism is in crisis. This book should be warmly welcomed by all who want to understand some of the main currents and cross currents of intellectual life in our time.

Richard John Neuhaus

...a collection of well-informed critical essays about leading contemporary theories of political liberalism. It is a valuable introduction to a philosophical debate of great current importance.--Lloyd L. Weinreb, Harvard Law School

It is a terrific book....At a time when many visions of liberalism are vying for a dominance, Christopher Wolfe and John Hittinger do a great service by collecting these interpretive essays on leading expositors and critics of contemporary liberal theory. Much of the interest of the book derives from the fact that the essayists themselves are major thinkers whose ideas are likely to shape or chasten the liberalisms of the future.--Mary Ann Glendon, Learned Hand Professor of Law, Harvard University, former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See

The 'crisis of liberalism'is incessantly discussed, but seldom have we been treated to such a lucid examination of why liberalism is in crisis. This book should be warmly welcomed by all who want to understand some of the main currents and cross currents of intellectual life in our time.--Richard John Neuhaus, The Institute on Religion and Public Life; Editor, FIRST THINGS

From the Publisher