The Principle of Fairness and Political Obligation

by George Klosko University of Virginia

Overview

In The Principle of Fairness and Political Obligation, George Klosko presents the first book-length treatment of political obligation grounded in the premises of liberal political theory. In this now-classic work, he clearly and systematically formulates what others thought impossible-a principle of fairness that specifies a set of conditions which grounds existing political obligations and bridges the gap between the abstract accounts of political principles and the actual beliefs of political actors. Brought up-to-date with a new introduction, this new edition will be of great interest to all interested in political thought.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781461645320
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	01/26/2004
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
File size:	520 KB

About the Author

George Klosko is Henry L. and Grace Doherty Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia. His books include Democratic Procedures and Liberal Consensus, Jacobins and Utopians: The Political Theory of Fundamental Moral Reform, as well as the two-volume History of Political Theory: An Introduction.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 New Introduction
Chapter 2 Preface
Chapter 3 Political Obligation
Chapter 4 The Principle of Fairness
Chapter 5 Political Precepts
Chapter 6 Discretionary Public Goods
Chapter 7 Fairness Theory
Chapter 8 Fairness, Utilitarianism, and Consent
Chapter 9 Appendix I: Parfit's Moral Arithmetic and the Obligation to Obey the Law
Chapter 10 Appendix II: The Principle of Fairness and Political Attitudes
Chapter 11 Bibliography
Chapter 12 Index

Editorial Reviews

Klosko's analysis is based on a commonsense idea of fairness, rather than on policy consequences and outcomes. It recognizes the fuzzy—even tragic—nature of political reality. In a less than perfect world, we must be (and generally are) satisfied with 'good enough.' Klosko's great achievement is to show with rigor what we implicitly mean by 'good enough' when determining whether individuals are even obligated to political communities in a world of uncertainty and unclarity. This compact and readable work should be of interest to more than professional political philosophers. Highly recommended.

Choice Reviews

The book is an exemplar of close and careful arguement, fairness, and clarity. Further, even with the developments over the last twelve years, the book retains the virtue of being a terrific introduction to the topics of political obligation and legitimacy more generally.

Ethics: An International Journal of Social, Political, and Legal Philosophy - Andrew Rehfeld

The argument developed in Klosko's book is worth wrestling with, for there is much to think about in this work and very little to distract.

The Review of Politics - Greg Hill

Klosko's clear and well-written book is the most comprehensive attempt yet to argue for the existence of political obligations from the Principle of Fairness.

Mind: A Quarterly Review of Philosophy - Jonathan Wolff

Anyone interested in the problem of political obligation will be stimulated by this book, which provides a good sustained argument for a plausible account of political obligation that is worthy of careful consideration.

Donald Beckern Political Science Review

In grappling with Klosko's arguments one learns much about the theory of fairness itself, and the book is a model of lucid and fair-minded exposition. It provides a nice counterpoint to the skeptical position popular among some liberal theorists.

Ethics: An International Journal of Social, Political, and Legal Philosophy - Leslie Green

George Klosko has performed an invaluable service by, for the first time, setting out the fairness theory of political obligation with thoroughness and some detail. He has ensured that hereafter the fairness theory will need to be subjected to proper critical discussion in any serious treatment of political obligation and his statement of the theory is by some way the best available.

Political Studies Review - John Horton

Anyone interested in the problem of political obligation will be stimulated by this book, which provides a good sustained argument for a plausible account of political obligation that is worthy of careful consideration.

American Political Science Review - Donald Becker

Klosko's analysis is based on a commonsense idea of fairness, rather than on policy consequences and outcomes. It recognizes the fuzzy—even tragic—nature of political reality. In a less than perfect world, we must be (and generally are) satisfied with 'good enough.' Klosko's great achievement is to show with rigor what we implicitly mean by 'good enough' when determining whether individuals are even obligated to political communities in a world of uncertainty and unclarity. This compact and readable work should be of interest to more than professional political philosophers. Highly recommended.

Choice

Klosko's analysis is based on a commonsense idea of fairness, rather than on policy consequences and outcomes. It recognizes the fuzzy—even tragic—nature of political reality. In a less than perfect world, we must be (and generally are) satisfied with 'good enough.' Klosko's great achievement is to show with rigor what we implicitly mean by 'good enough' when determining whether individuals are even obligated to political communities in a world of uncertainty and unclarity. This compact and readable work should be of interest to more than professional political philosophers. Highly recommended.

CHOICE

Anyone interested in the problem of political obligation will be stimulated by this book, which provides a good sustained argument for a plausible account of political obligation that is worthy of careful consideration.--Donald Becker "American Political Science Review "

George Klosko has performed an invaluable service by, for the first time, setting out the fairness theory of political obligation with thoroughness and some detail. He has ensured that hereafter the fairness theory will need to be subjected to proper critical discussion in any serious treatment of political obligation and his statement of the theory is by some way the best available.--John Horton "Political Studies Review "

Klosko's clear and well-written book is the most comprehensive attempt yet to argue for the existence of political obligations from the Principle of Fairness.--Jonathan Wolff "Mind: A Quarterly Review of Philosophy "

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