You and the State: A Short Introduction to Political Philosophy

by Jan Narveson

Overview

Jan Narveson asks the provocative, philosophical question: is the state necessary? In this unusual introduction to political philosophy, Narveson draws on the history of political philosophy and discusses its main theories_classic liberal, democratic, socialist, radical_with reference to how each sees the place of the individual in the political order. Narveson's critique is situated within issues of freedom, authority, economic welfare, international relations and others to explore how and whether the state is necessary. His argument is ultimately anti-statist and takes seriously the question of whether and how some version of anarchism might make sense.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780742548435
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	04/07/2008
Series:	Elements of Philosophy
Pages:	228
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.69(d)
Age Range:	3 Months

About the Author

Jan Narveson is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Waterloo in Ontario. He has written and lectured widely on moral and political subjects. Narveson is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and was named Officer of the Order of Canada in 2003 for distinguished lifetime achievement.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Preface Part 2 Chapter One: What is political philosophy about? Why do it? Part 3 Chapter Two: Right and Might Part 4 Chapter Three: Pushing the Good - Conservatism and the Guardian State Part 5 Chapter Four: Classical Liberalism and the Minimal State Part 6 Chapter Five: Democracy - All Power to the People? Part 7 Chapter Six: The Modern (Welfare, Regulative) State Part 8 Chapter Seven: War and Peace, Immigration, Trade Part 9 Chapter Eight: Taking Anarchism Seriously

What People are Saying About This

Hawley Fogg-Davis

Narveson offers a refreshingly straightforward introduction to the major schools of political philosophy in which he lays bare his own unvarnished opinions about the proper role of government in the lives of individuals. The animated journey through classical philosophical ideas and texts winds up at an unusual and intriguing destination few of us bother to seriously consider, but probably should: a state of no state that Narveson lauds as capitalist anarchism.

Editorial Reviews

Narveson offers a refreshingly straightforward introduction to the major schools of political philosophy in which he lays bare his own unvarnished opinions about the proper role of government in the lives of individuals. The animated journey through classical philosophical ideas and texts winds up at an unusual and intriguing destination few of us bother to seriously consider, but probably should: a state of no state that Narveson lauds as capitalist anarchism.

Hawley Fogg-Davis

An enjoyable, breezy book that is sure to generate much thought and much comment.. .. Recommended. Two-star review.

Choice Reviews

An enjoyable, breezy book that is sure to generate much thought and much comment.. .. Recommended. Two-star review.

March 2009 Choice Reviews

An enjoyable, breezy book that is sure to generate much thought and much comment.. .. Recommended. Two-star review.

March 2009 CHOICE

An enjoyable, breezy book that is sure to generate much thought and much comment. . . . Recommended. Two-star review.

Choice

Since the Western tradition of political philosophy first took root in ancient Greece, it has grappled with three overarching questions: What, if anything justifies the government's existence? Assuming that government can be justified or is simply found to be inevitable, what form should it take? And what should the government do?. .. Jan Narveson's most recent book, You and the State: A Fairly Brief Introduction to Political Philosophy, has the virtue of paying due attention to all three of the big questions, treating them in an accessible and engaging manner well suited to anyone exploring the subject for the first time.

The Independent Review: A Journal of Political Economy

An enjoyable, breezy book that is sure to generate much thought and much comment. . . . Recommended. Two-star review.

March 2009 Choice

Since the Western tradition of political philosophy first took root in ancient Greece, it has grappled with three overarching questions: What, if anything justifies the government's existence? Assuming that government can be justified or is simply found to be inevitable, what form should it take? And what should the government do?. .. Jan Narveson's most recent book, You and the State: A Fairly Brief Introduction to Political Philosophy, has the virtue of paying due attention to all three of the big questions, treating them in an accessible and engaging manner well suited to anyone exploring the subject for the first time.

Fall 2009 The Independent Review: A Journal of Political Economy

Narveson offers a refreshingly straightforward introduction to the major schools of political philosophy in which he lays bare his own unvarnished opinions about the proper role of government in the lives of individuals. The animated journey through classical philosophical ideas and texts winds up at an unusual and intriguing destination few of us bother to seriously consider, but probably should: a state of no state that Narveson lauds as capitalist anarchism.--Hawley Fogg-Davis, Temple University

An enjoyable, breezy book that is sure to generate much thought and much comment. . . . Recommended. Two-star review.--CHOICE, March 2009

Since the Western tradition of political philosophy first took root in ancient Greece, it has grappled with three overarching questions: What, if anything justifies the government's existence? Assuming that government can be justified or is simply found to be inevitable, what form should it take? And what should the government do? . . . Jan Narveson's most recent book, You and the State: A Fairly Brief Introduction to Political Philosophy, has the virtue of paying due attention to all three of the big questions, treating them in an accessible and engaging manner well suited to anyone exploring the subject for the first time.--The Independent Review: A Journal of Political Economy, Fall 2009

From the Publisher

Since the Western tradition of political philosophy first took root in ancient Greece, it has grappled with three overarching questions: What, if anything justifies the government's existence? Assuming that government can be justified or is simply found to be inevitable, what form should it take? And what should the government do? . . . Jan Narveson's most recent book, You and the State: A Fairly Brief Introduction to Political Philosophy, has the virtue of paying due attention to all three of the big questions, treating them in an accessible and engaging manner well suited to anyone exploring the subject for the first time.

Fall 2009 Independent Review: A Journal of Political Economy