Social and Political Philosophy

John Christman is Professor of Philosophy, Political Science, and Women’s Studies at Penn State University. He is the author of The Politics of Persons: Individual Autonomy and Socio-historical Selves and The Myth of Property: Toward an Egalitarian Theory of Ownership. He is also the editor of The Inner Citadel: Essays on Individual Autonomy and co-editor (with Joel Anderson) of Autonomy and the Challenges to Liberalism: New Essays.

"It was hard to improve upon the first edition of Christman’s Social and Political Philosophy. But he has done it! In his second edition, Christman has updated his text and included two new cutting-edge chapters. The result is a truly excellent introductory text for our times."--James P. Sterba, University of Notre Dame"Christman's Introduction into Social and Political Philosophy is without any doubt the most comprehensive and knowledgeable introduction we have at present. It is not only a thoughtful overview over all important philosophical traditions (not only the Anglo-American ones) but also all essential problems – from issues in marriage, gender or race to normative problems in human rights, global justice or immigration. It is unique in its close look at the complex links between the social issues and their role in different political conceptions. Christman helps us all to better understand social and political philosophy, and thereby to better understand contemporary societies and our place within them."--Beate Roessler, University of Amsterdam"Christman’s Introduction offers an impressively comprehensive, highly engaging and very accessible survey of the interconnected issues at the heart of political and social philosophy. The 1st edition has helped generations of students navigate the complexities of these philosophical fields – and the students in our courses loved it. If anything, this new expanded and updated 2nd edition will prove even more successful."--Robin Celikates, University of Amsterdam

• Table of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgments1. IntroductionThe Liberal Democratic ParadigmPreliminaries I: MethodPreliminaries II: Moral Theory and Political PhilosophyStructure of the BookNotes on Further Reading2. Social Philosophy and the Road to the PoliticalWhat is Social Philosophy?A Selection of Issues in Social PhilosophyFrom Social Criticism to Political PhilosophyChapter SummaryCase to ConsiderNotes on Further ReadingPart I. Basic Issues Within the Liberal Paradigm3. The Problem of Political AuthorityThe Social Contract TraditionHobbes’s Social Contract: Mechanism, Egoism, and RationalityLocke: Reason, Morality, and FreedomLessons from Rousseau and KantFrom Consent to LegitimacyChapter SummaryCase to ConsiderNotes on Further Reading4. Distributive JusticeDistributive Justice and EqualityLibertarianismUtilitarian Approaches to Economic JusticeRawlsian Distributive JusticeVarieties of EgalitarianismFrom Equality to the Welfare StateChapter SummaryCase to ConsiderNotes on Further Reading5. Toleration, Pluralism, and the Foundations of LiberalismThe Canons of LiberalismThe Perfectionist ChallengeUtilitarian Liberalism: Perfectionism in Disguise?The Response of Political LiberalismLiberalism, Public Discourse, and DemocracyChapter SummaryCase to ConsiderNotes on Further ReadingPart II. Critique of the Liberal Paradigm: Challenges and Departures6. Conservatism, Communitarianism, and The Social Conception of the SelfConservatismCommunitarianismChapter SummaryCase to ConsiderNotes on Further Reading7. Race and the Politics of IdentityIdeal Theory and Ongoing InjusticeCritical Race TheoryWhat is Racism, What is Race?Racism and The Structure of LiberalismLiberalism, Freedom and CultureChapter SummaryCase to ConsiderNotes on Further Reading8. Feminism, Gender and SexualityFeminismSexuality and Gender IdentityIdentity, Injustice, and DemocracyChapter SummaryCase to ConsiderNotes on Further Reading9. Marxism and Radical CritiqueThe Legacy of Marx and MarxismPost-Modern DeparturesChapter SummaryCase to ConsiderNotes on Further Reading10. Beyond the Nation StateCosmopolitanism and NationalismHuman RightsGlobal Justice GenerallyInjustice and Borders: ImmigrationChapter SummaryCase to ConsiderNotes on Further ReadingEpilogue: The Hope of Liberalism?