You and the State: A Fairly Brief Introduction to Political Philosophy

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Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2008 - 215 pages
Jan Narveson asks the provocative, philosophical question: is the state necessary? In this unusual introduction to political philosophy, Narveson draws on the history of political philosophy and discusses its main theories_classic liberal, democratic, socialist, radical_with reference to how each sees the place of the individual in the political order. Narveson's critique is situated within issues of freedom, authority, economic welfare, international relations and others to explore how and whether the state is necessary. His argument is ultimately anti-statist and takes seriously the question of whether and how some version of anarchism might make sense.

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Contents

From the Jungle to Civilized Government?
25
Conservatism and the Guardian State
53
Classic Liberalism and the Minimal State
81
Copyright

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About the author (2008)

Jan Narveson is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Waterloo in Ontario. He has written and lectured widely on moral and political subjects. Narveson is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and was named Officer of the Order of Canada in 2003 for distinguished lifetime achievement.

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