Focusing on popular attitudes towards political obligations, this study examines how these perceptions interact with state views. George Klosko, a leading political theorist, offers a comprehensive defense of a fairness-based theory of political obligation, arguing it is the most robust theory available today. Through this analysis, the book delves into the complexities of civic duty and the moral underpinnings of political engagement.
Focusing on the challenges of achieving consensus in diverse societies, this book explores how liberal theory can reconcile differing moral, religious, and philosophical views. It innovatively draws on research into citizens' attitudes regarding rights, liberties, distributive and procedural justice, and religious beliefs, aiming to establish foundational principles that respect this diversity while promoting political agreement.
The book presents a groundbreaking principle of fairness that establishes conditions for political obligations, effectively connecting theoretical political principles with the beliefs of real-world political actors. This updated edition includes a new introduction, making it a valuable resource for anyone interested in contemporary political thought and its practical implications.
History of Political Theory: An Introduction is an engaging introduction to the main figures in the history of Western Political Theory and their most important works. The second volume traces the origin and development of liberal political theory, and so the foundations for contemporary views.
Whether we should obey the law is a question that affects everyone’s day-to-day life, from traffic laws to taxes. Most people obey out of habit, but the question remains: why are we morally required to do so? If we fail to obey, the state may enforce compliance, but is it right for it to do this, and if so, why? In this book, George Klosko, a renowned authority on political obligation, skillfully probes these questions. He considers various prominent theories of obligation and shows why they are unconvincing, contending that only an approach that interweaves multiple principles, rooted in "fair play," is fully persuasive. Klosko develops the fullest statement of his own well-known theory of political obligation while providing a clear overview of the subject. The result is both an essential introductory text for students of political theory and philosophy and a cutting-edge, original contribution to the debate.