skip to content
Reappraising political theory : revisionist studies in the history of political thought Preview this item
ClosePreview this item
  • Preview this Item (Questia)

Reappraising political theory : revisionist studies in the history of political thought

Author: Terence Ball
Publisher: Oxford : Clarendon Press ; New York : Oxford University Press, 1995.
Edition/Format:   Book : EnglishView all editions and formats
Summary:
Machiavelli, Hobbes, Rousseau, Mill, Marx, and Foucault: what really links these and other 'classic' political theorists? Not, argues Terence Ball, their common status as 'dead, white, European males', but instead the exciting and compelling way in which they can speak to us today. Professor Ball begins by setting out his liberating view of the way we should approach 'classic' tests. Using an approach that is both
Rating:

(not yet rated) 0 with reviews - Be the first.

 

Find a copy in the library

Retrieving... Finding libraries that hold this item...

Details

Additional Physical Format: Online version:
Ball, Terence.
Reappraising political theory.
Oxford : Clarendon Press ; New York : Oxford University Press, 1995
(OCoLC)609001325
Online version:
Ball, Terence.
Reappraising political theory.
Oxford : Clarendon Press ; New York : Oxford University Press, 1995
(OCoLC)621073407
Document Type: Book
All Authors / Contributors: Terence Ball
ISBN: 0198279531 9780198279532 0198279957 9780198279952
OCLC Number: 30664222
Description: xv, 310 p. ; 23 cm.
Contents: 1. Reappraising Political Theory --
2. Whither Political Theory? --
3. Machiavelli and Moral Change --
4. Hobbes's Linguistic Turn --
5. Rousseau's Civil Religion Reconsidered --
6. The Survivor and the Savant: Two Schemes for Civil Religion Compared --
7. Benthamite Discipline and Punishment; or, What Foucault Missed --
8. Utilitarianism, Feminism, and the Franchise --
9. Vico and Marx on 'Making' History --
10. Marx and Darwin: A Reconsideration --
11. Constitutional Interpretation: What's Wrong with 'Original Intent'? --
12. The Myth of Adam and American Identity.
Responsibility: Terence Ball.
More information:

Abstract:

Machiavelli, Hobbes, Rousseau, Mill, Marx, and Foucault: what really links these and other 'classic' political theorists? Not, argues Terence Ball, their common status as 'dead, white, European males', but instead the exciting and compelling way in which they can speak to us today. Professor Ball begins by setting out his liberating view of the way we should approach 'classic' tests. Using an approach that is both 'problem-driven' and methodologically 'pluralist', Ball offers new readings - and reappraisals of key authors and classic works in political theory. Throughout he argues that the importance of the great texts lies in their repeated reinterpretation in the light of problems that arise for present-day readers.

This tour de force, always entertaining and eclectic, focuses on the core problems surrounding many of the major thinkers. Was Machiavelli really amoral? Why did language matter so much to Hobbes - and why should it matter to us? Are the roots of the totalitarian state to be found in Rousseau? Were the utilitarians sexist in their view of the franchise? Written in a lively and accessible style, the book will provoke debate among students and scholars alike. Throughout, Terence Ball shows just how exciting and important political theory can be.

Reviews

User-contributed reviews
Retrieving weRead reviews...
Retrieving GoodReads reviews...
Retrieving Amazon reviews...

Tags

Be the first.
Confirm this request

You may have already requested this item. Please select Ok if you would like to proceed with this request anyway.

Close Window

Please sign in to WorldCat 

Don't have an account? You can easily create a free account.