Reflections on Political Theory

A Voice of Reason from the Past

By: N. Wood

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Hardcover | 18 December 2001 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Hardcover
192 Pages

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21.59 x 13.97 x 1.42

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In this thought-provoking study, Neal Wood challenges the conception of political theory as a lofty discipline remote from the world of real politics. Drawing on the examples of thinkers from Plato to those of the nineteenth century, he attempts to define political theory by examining the nature of the state and politics, by identifying the major characteristics that their theories share and by analyzing the conditions that have favoured their creation. Wood critically explores the two principle approaches to studying the work of past theorists - the philosophical and historical - and evaluates the relevance of Marxism. The various theories are not treated as blueprints but collectively as a voice of reason from the past, which can inspire and guide present and future theorizing.

Industry Reviews

This is a book that the contemporary English-speaking world needs very much.' - Gordon Schochet, Professor of Political Science, Rutgers University

'...a pleasant -as well as informative-read' - Choice

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You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Politics & Government Political Science & Theory Philosophy Social & Political Philosophy Society & Culture Cultural Studies History of Ideas History of Western Philosophy History Specific Events & Topics in History

Preface	p. ix
Questions and Problems	p. 1
Defining Political Theory	p. 15
State and Politics	p. 17
Nature of the state	p. 17
Meaning of politics	p. 25
Symbolic forms and politics	p. 32
Character of Political Theory	p. 39
Political theorist as 'a reformer of politicks'	p. 41
The generative dimension	p. 47
The prescriptive dimension	p. 56
The persuasive dimension	p. 61
Conditions Favouring Political Theory	p. 71
Political conflict and social turmoil	p. 73
Freedom of expression	p. 76
Intellectual quality and education	p. 78
Optimism about the future	p. 84
Studying Political Theory	p. 89
Philosophical Mode of Analysis	p. 91
The ivory tower syndrome	p. 92
The philosophical idealism of the Cambridge School	p. 101
Philosophy without history or philosophy and history?	p. 109
Historical Mode of Analysis	p. 115
Ideational and material realms	p. 117
Questions of historicism and relativism	p. 122
Role of ideology	p. 126
Marxism and the Historical Mode of Analysis	p. 133
Salience of the economic	p. 135
History as dynamic process	p. 138
Class structure and conflict	p. 146
Conception of the state	p. 151
Afterword: Toward the Future	p. 155
Notes	p. 165
Index	p. 173
Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved.

Reflections on Political Theory

A Voice of Reason from the Past

At a Glance

Hardcover

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

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