Pete Woodcock - Political Theory

1 Cover

2 Front Matter Political Theory A Beginner’s Guide Pete Woodcock polity

3 Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Introduction Purpose of this book Why should we bother with the history of political thought? How to use this book Contents of this book Methodology Works cited Notes

4 Chapter 2: What is the nature of politics? Chapter overview Socrates and the examined life Machiavelli and glory Utilitarianism and happiness Kant, Walzer, morality and dirty hands Weber Conclusion Works cited

5 Chapter 3: Is humanity nasty or nice? Chapter overview Thomas Hobbes John Locke Jean-Jacques Rousseau Friedrich Nietzsche Conclusion Works cited

6 Chapter 4: Why should I obey the state? Chapter overview Hobbes and obedience John Locke’s critique Critics of social contract theory Rousseau and Patemen: obligation and participation Conclusion Works cited

7 Chapter 5: Is democracy the best form of government? Chapter overview Athenian beginnings Rousseau and Montesquieu The role of the representative: Edmund Burke Democracy in America The tyranny of the majority Conclusion Works cited

8 Chapter 6: When can my freedom be restricted? Chapter overview Thomas Hobbes and freedom Mill’s Harm Principle Conclusion Works cited

9 Chapter 7: What would a just society look like? Chapter overview Plato: justice as the harmonious state Aristotle: justice as happiness and the general good Locke: natural rights and property Hume Rawls: Justice as fairness Nozick Conclusion Works cited

10 Chapter 8: Why have women been ignored in the history of political thought? Chapter overview Women in the history of political thought Mary Wollstonecraft John Stuart Mill Iris Marion Young Conclusion Works cited

11 Chapter 9: When is revolution against government justified? Chapter overview Burke vs Paine Capitalism Karl Marx Conclusion Works cited

12 Chapter 10: Conclusion: Ideologies Introduction Liberalism Conservatism Socialism Applying the ideologies Conclusion Works cited

13 Index

14 End User License Agreement

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To

Raphs and Issy

Pete Woodcock

polity

Copyright © Pete Woodcock 2020

The right of Pete Woodcock to be identified as Author of this Work has been asserted in accordance with the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

First published in 2020 by Polity Press

Polity Press

65 Bridge Street

Cambridge CB2 1UR, UK

Polity Press

101 Station Landing

Suite 300

Medford, MA 02155, USA

All rights reserved. Except for the quotation of short passages for the purpose of criticism and review, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.

ISBN-13: 978-1-5095-3136-3

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Woodcock, Pete (Peter Stewart), author.

Title: Political theory : a beginner’s guide / Pete Woodcock.

Description: Cambridge, UK ; Medford, MA : Polity, [2020] | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Summary: “In this highly accessible new introductory textbook, Pete Woodcock examines the fundamental questions of political theory. He takes students step-by-step through the most important answers given by history’s most famous thinkers to the most essential questions in politics, on topics ranging from liberty and justice to gender and revolution”-- Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019024002 (print) | LCCN 2019024003 (ebook) | ISBN 9781509531332 (hardback) | ISBN 9781509531349 (paperback) | ISBN 9781509531363 (epub)

Subjects: LCSH: Political science--Philosophy.

Classification: LCC JA71 .W68 2020 (print) | LCC JA71 (ebook) | DDC 320.01--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019024002LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019024003

The publisher has used its best endeavours to ensure that the URLs for external websites referred to in this book are correct and active at the time of going to press. However, the publisher has no responsibility for the websites and can make no guarantee that a site will remain live or that the content is or will remain appropriate.

Every effort has been made to trace all copyright holders, but if any have been overlooked the publisher will be pleased to include any necessary credits in any subsequent reprint or edition.

For further information on Polity, visit our website: politybooks.com

This book is the result of teaching I have delivered at the University of Huddersfield, and prior to that at the University of Southampton; I am in the debt of colleagues and students at both institutions that have endured my endless wittering on the subjects contained within these pages. I appreciate how lucky I am to spend my working life discussing these things with you all.

Whilst writing this book I have sought refuge in the University of Huddersfield’s library, the Leeds Library, and Lindley Library (Kirklees), and have benefitted greatly from the expertise of the staff of those institutions, and the tranquillity of the surroundings.