Political Reason and Interest: A Philosophical Legitimation of the Political Order in a Pluralistic Society - Couverture rigide

Erp, Herman H.H.Van

Couverture rigide

ISBN 10 : 1840149167 ISBN 13 : 9781840149166

Editeur : Ashgate Publishing Limited, 2000

Synopsis

The major themes of this book are politics and interests. It examines the relationship between politics and interests from an abstract philosophical perspective rather than from the perspective of practical politics, and shows that the central task of politics is to serve the common interest and that the means for realizing the common interest resides in the political power of taking and implementing decisions. A modern plural democracy gives expression to this task in a characteristic way, by making the justification and legitimation of power part of the political "game". The democratic way of dealing with political power has a unique value which the author argues has been neglected by political theory. The present work aims to address this shortcoming.

A propos du livre

Présentation de l'éditeur

Why do we need a state, and what is a just and reasonable constitution? Why, and under what conditions, should representatives of a majority have the legitimate right to make political decisions? The different answers given by Rawls and Nozick offer good points of reference to answer these questions within the perspective of liberal democracy and personal interests. This book subjects the concept interest to a thorough analysis and compares it with concepts as needs, preferences and values. It opts for a conception of value-based political interests, which should neither be reduced to individual nor to collective interests. The book develops its theses in dialogue with a broad scope of classical and modern political theories. A central role is given to Kantian and Hegelian ideas concerning practical reason and political power, and to Claude Lefort, who’s distinction between the political and the social is opposed to a lot of different approaches which try to reduce politics to an instrument of social struggle and management, which can be found not only in marxism and totalitarianism but also in many varieties of liberal approaches concerning social choice and democracy.

Biographie de l'auteur

Herman van Erp (1943) was associate professor for social philosophy and ethics at Tilburg University (Netherlands), visiting professor in Antwerp and Nice. He specialised in Kant and Hegel. Since 2012, he is adjunct professor at the University of Fort Hare, South Africa. Other publications see: http://nl.linkedin.com/pub/herman-van-erp/3/292/a08

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Ashgate Publishing Limited
• Date d'édition: 2000
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 1840149167
• ISBN 13: 9781840149166
• Reliure: Relié
• Nombre de pages: 222
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible