What makes human beings intentional and thinking subjects? How does their intentionality and thought connect with their social nature and their communal experience? How do the answers to these questions shape legitimate assumptions in social explanation and political evaluation? In this innovative study, Philip Pettit addresses these broad-ranging issues and defends a connected set of responses. The book argues for an original way of distinguishing thinking subjects, in particular human beings, from other intentional systems, natural and artificial. It defends the holistic view that human thought requires communal resources while denying that this social connection compromises the autonomy of individuals. And, in developing the significance of this view of social subjects - this holistic individualism - it outlines a novel framework for social and political theory. Within this framework, social theory is allowed to follow a number of paths: Space is found for intentional interpretation and decision-theoretic reconstruction as well as for structural explanation and rational choice derivation. But political theory is treated less ecumenically. The framework raises serious questions about contractarian and atomistic modes of thought and it points the way to a republican rethinking of liberal commitments. Designed to be accessible to readers in a number of disciplines and on the student as well as professional level, The Common Mind will interest philosophers as well as political scientists, economists, sociologists, cognitive scientists, and scholars of law.
Industry Reviews
"Philosophers...have a tendency to become highly specialized. The achievement of this book is that it breaks from that mould whilst not sacrificing the care, rigour and passion for exact and detailed articulation of positions on even the biggest issues on which philosophers pride themselves....It is a work which in many places leaves light where once there was darkness. Its breadth of ascope and contribution is a tribute, of course, to the wide ranging
interestws, enthusiasms and understanding of its author." --ANU Reporter (Australian National University)
"It is a book to dip into for good ideas, interesting suggestions and, just possibly, long-distance connections between apparently unrelated issues."--Philosophy
"Pettit should be applauded for the breadth of his vision, and for the vigour that he brings to its elaboration."--European Journal of Philosophy
"Pettit's book is dense with explanation and argument, all of it thoughtful and careful, much of it liable to interest those concerned with the relevant issues. A host of pertinent topics are discussed. The book is very clearly written and well organised....This book represents a serious attempt to deal with a wide range of important issues and to connect these issues together."--Mind
"This is an interesting, wide-ranging book in the analytic tradition worth the attention of those with interests in the subjects mentioned in the subtitle."--The Philosophical Review
"Philosophers...have a tendency to become highly specialized. The achievement of this book is that it breaks from that mould whilst not sacrificing the care, rigour and passion for exact and detailed articulation of positions on even the biggest issues on which philosophers pride themselves....It is a work which in many places leaves light where once there was darkness. Its breadth of scope and contribution is a tribute, of course, to the wide ranging
interests, enthusiasms and understanding of its author." --ANU Reporter (Australian National University)
"It is a book to dip into for good ideas, interesting suggestions and, just possibly, long-distance connections between apparently unrelated issues."--Philosophy
"Pettit should be applauded for the breadth of his vision, and for the vigour that he brings to its elaboration."--European Journal of Philosophy
"Pettit's book is dense with explanation and argument, all of it thoughtful and careful, much of it liable to interest those concerned with the relevant issues. A host of pertinent topics are discussed. The book is very clearly written and well organised....This book represents a serious attempt to deal with a wide range of important issues and to connect these issues together."--Mind
"This is an interesting, wide-ranging book in the analytic tradition worth the attention of those with interests in the subjects mentioned in the subtitle."--The Philosophical Review
"It is a book to dip into for good ideas, interesting suggestions and, just possibly, long-distance connections between apparently unrelated issues."--The Times Literary Supplement
