Political Philosophy - A Complete Introduction: Teach Yourself by Parvin, Phil -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Title About the Author Dedication Contents Introduction: What is political philosophy? Part One: Essential concepts

1 Freedom (1): Negative freedom

Isaiah Berlin’s distinction between negative and positive liberty The distinction between formal and effective freedom G.A. Cohen on negative liberty Conclusion

2 Freedom (2): Positive freedom

3 Equality (1): The concept of equality

Defining equality Treating people as equals Equality and difference: does equality mean treating people the same? Equality of outcome Why should we value equality? Conclusion

4 Equality (2): Equality of opportunity

Equality of opportunity as non-discrimination Positive discrimination (or affirmative action) Equality of opportunity as a meritocracy Conclusion

5 Power

Some initial thoughts Lukes and the three dimensions of power Michel Foucault and self-policing citizens Conclusion

6 Democracy

From direct to representative democracy Three problems with democracy Two alternative conceptions of democracy: deliberative and radical democracy Conclusion

7 Rights

Two liberal arguments in defence of rights Are rights too individualistic? Conclusion

8 Political obligation

A successful theory of political obligation Social contract theories: obligation based on consent Fair play Natural duties Conclusion

Part Two: Contemporary theories and debates

9 Utilitarianism

Consequentialism and deontology Utility Act-utilitarianism Rule-utilitarianism Conclusion

10 Rawls's justice as fairness

Rawls’s critique of utilitarianism The original position and the veil of ignorance The two principles of justice The equal basic liberty principle The equality of opportunity principle The difference principle Conclusion

11 Libertarianism

The limits on state action Nozick’s entitlement theory of justice Redistributive taxation The principle of self-ownership Against patterned distributions: freedom vs. equality Conclusion

12 Luck egalitarianism

Luck in Rawls Equality of welfare Dworkin and equality of resources What is the point of equality? Conclusion

13 Communitarianism

Michael Sandel and the unencumbered self MacIntyre’s critique of the Enlightenment Conclusion

14 Political liberalism

Liberalism is political not general Liberalism is political not comprehensive Liberalism is political not metaphysical Conclusion

15 Perfectionism and state neutrality

The policy implications of Rawlsian neutrality Neutrality of effect Neutrality of justification Raz and liberal perfectionism Young’s critique of liberal neutrality Conclusion

16 Multiculturalism

The argument for liberal multiculturalism Criticisms of liberal multiculturalism Conclusion

17 Feminism

The existence of patriarchy Sex and gender The importance of power The personal is political Conclusion

18 Global justice

Statism Cosmopolitanism and particularism Global poverty: humanitarianism vs. global coercive redistribution Conclusion

19 Intergenerational justice

Utilitarianism and the repugnant conclusion Liberalism and person-affecting moralities A liberal response: Rawls’s just savings principle Conclusion

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