Most Important Books to Read for Aspiring Politicians
Due westchapeau does a just gild await like? What gives states legitimacy, and what level of say-so should sovereign powers wield? What's the best style to organize people? What purpose should society serve, if any? Where does tyranny or evil come from, and how can its emergence be stopped? Are we born with inherent homo rights? If and then, what are they? If not, what rights should exist enshrined in law and why?
These are just a few of the questions tackled in political philosophy, a co-operative of philosophy related to ethics and morality but centered more specifically around questions concerning justice, property, say-so, liberty, and rights at structural and systemic levels.
From introductions and anthologies to grand political treatises from individual thinkers, this reading list is designed to provide you with a well-rounded view of the most of import political contributions from philosophers down the ages. While at that place are many more than books that could appear on this list, those featured should serve as representatives of particular strands of political idea, and gateways to farther exploration.
1. An Introduction to Political Philosophy, by Jonathan Wolff
First published in 1996 and now in its third edition, Jonathan Wolff'due south An Introduction to Political Philosophy is a fantastic starting place for anyone curious nigh political philosophy. Wolff discusses all the core positions in political philosophy with conversational yet wonderfully enlightening prose, investigating answers to questions around power, liberty, and justice. At an accessible 250 pages, this is a very squeamish entry signal to political philosophy.
two. Justice: What's the Right Thing to Practice? By Michael J. Sandel
Based on his legendary Harvard grade, Michael J. Sandel's 2008 Justice: What'due south the Right Affair to Exercise? introduces readers to the philosophical concepts that lurk beneath contemporary conflicts in politics and beyond. While Sandel discusses core approaches to ideals and morality, he structures the conversation effectually gimmicky political and societal concerns, touching on such bug as affirmative action, same-sex matrimony, physician-assisted suicide, ballgame, national service, the moral limits of markets, and more than. For anyone interested in the ideologies and thinking that drive many of today'southward well-nigh contentious bug, this is a hugely informative and entertaining read.
3. Arguing Well-nigh Political Philosophy, by Matt Zwolinski
If you're looking for a ane-terminate shop for all things political philosophy, look no farther than Matt Zwolinkski's epic 2009 Arguing Near Political Philosophy. Its 740 pages contain extracts of the most important political contributions from philosopher's past and present, ranging from classic thinkers such every bit Hobbes and Rousseau, through to more contemporary figures like Robert Nozick and G.A. Cohen. Brilliantly organized and featuring helpful contextual commentaries, Arguing Almost Political Philosophy is an essential addition for any serious student of political philosophy.
4. Democracy, by Plato
Turning from introductions and anthologies to primary texts, where better to start than with a discussion of political philosophy that, though over two thousand years onetime, is i of the bailiwick'due south finest works and still drives discussion today? In his Republic, Aboriginal Greek philosopher Plato sets out to answer the question, 'what is justice?' — and in doing so non only provides wonderful commentary effectually the significant of justice itself, but too shares his vision for how an ideal society could achieve it. And judge what? Plato's ideal society is governed not through popularly democratic means just by disciplinarian philosopher kings. Enlightening and controversial to this solar day, Plato's Republic is an essential text for anyone interested in the foundations and evolution of political thinking in Western society.
v. The Prince, past Niccolò Machiavelli
It's all well and good discussing justice and building ideal societies, only how do y'all actually get your hands on power? Niccolò Machiavelli's The Prince shocked Europe upon its 1532 publication. Intended as a ruthless manual for aspiring rulers, The Prince abandons conventional notions of morality and justice however remains packed full of incredible insights into human psychology. For those who want a peek behind all the grandstanding and lofty linguistic communication of political philosophy, Machiavelli'due south curt, sharp work provides piercing commentary as to how the show actually runs — and is every bit relevant today as 5 centuries agone.
6. Leviathan, by Thomas Hobbes
"The life of man is solitary, poor, nasty, hardhearted, and short" — and then writes English philosopher Thomas Hobbes in his monumental 1651 ballsy, Leviathan. I of the earliest and most influential examples of social contract theory, Hobbes seeks to legitimize sovereign ability past demonstrating that conflict amidst individuals is inevitable, and that peace can only exist achieved if individuals surrender certain freedoms to a central power (in Hobbes' example, the monarchy) in exchange for certain benefits, such as protection. A difficult, challenging, nevertheless masterly work, Leviathan's endurance over centuries of intense critique indicates its ability as a political piece of work, and renders it an essential read for committed students of political philosophy.
7. Second Treatise of Government, by John Locke
The influence of John Locke's 1689 Second Treatise of Government can be observed only past examining the constitutions of any democratically-elected regime today. Widely regarded as the foundational text of modern liberalism, in this brusque work Locke asserts that we are all born equal and endowed with natural rights and freedoms, and that governments can never be considered legitimate unless they have the consent of the people. This detail edition also features Locke's Alphabetic character Concerning Toleration, published in the aforementioned twelvemonth, that aimed to end Christianity's wars of religion and called for the separation of church building and state.
8. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, past Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass's 1845 autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass differs from the other books on this list in that information technology doesn't necessarily put forward or critique a general or abstruse political organization, but rather uses first-person storytelling to focus like a laser on a item political issue: slavery. A former slave himself, in this vivid memoir Frederick Douglass recalls his experiences and advocates for civil rights with blazing intensity. Highly influential in the eventual abolition of slavery in the USA, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass brings key tenets of liberal political philosophy to life, and belongs on the bookshelf of anyone interested in how impassioned writing has the power to transform the political landscape.
9. Das Kapital, by Karl Marx
Would a listing of the near important works in political philosophy exist consummate without featuring the creator of one of the virtually influential political theories of all time? The design for Marxist thinking, Das Kapital is Karl Marx'due south 1867 magnum opus, in which he builds out his sustained critique of capitalism and individual property, and asserts his vision for a organization of common ownership of the ways of production — a communist club congenital around the maxim, "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need." Love him or loathe him, understanding the development of global political philosophy would not exist possible without studying Karl Marx.
10. The Open Society and Its Enemies, by Karl Popper
Austrian-British philosopher Karl Popper'south The Open Club and Its Enemies, first published in 1945, is famous for skewering the politics of two highly-regarded philosophers who besides announced on this list, Plato and Marx. After reading Popper'due south devastating critiques of each thinker, it is difficult to return to their political ideas with confidence. However, The Open Social club and Its Enemies should non only be thought of every bit a successful negative piece of work: Popper likewise posits one of the well-nigh profound conceptions and defences of democracy ever written, arguing that only if criticism is allowed to flourish in society can progress be made. Popper's entertaining and accessible style, as well as his lucid consideration of other significant political thinkers, makes this a highly recommended read.
11. The Second Sex activity, by Simone de Beauvoir
The works listed so far have all been written by — and mostly for — men. In the evolution of modern Western societies, women were largely excluded from the political arena in both literal and theoretical terms until swell thinkers similar English language philosopher Mary Wollstonecraft began making waves with powerful works like her 1792 A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, in which she challenged the dominant narrative that women shouldn't receive a rational education. While Wollstonecraft and others sowed the seeds for the 'first wave' of feminist philosophy and activism, French existentialist Simone de Beauvoir's 1949 The Second Sex marks the starting point of second-moving ridge feminism, whereby the aim is to reach gender equality beyond voting rights. Beauvoir dissects how "one is not built-in, but rather becomes, a woman" — shining a calorie-free on the negative fallout and injustices of stereotyped gender expectations. Required reading for anyone who believes in the equality of the sexes, the cardinal messages of The 2nd Sex are as important today as they were for the housewives of the forties and fifties.
12. The Origins of Totalitarianism, past Hannah Arendt
After the disastrous ideological experiments of the 20th century, German language-born American political philosopher Hannah Arendt diagnoses where it all went wrong. Exploring the institutions, operations, and techniques of totalitarian movements, Arendt's 1951 The Origins of Totalitarianism focuses on two genuine forms of totalitarian government in our contempo history — Nazi Deutschland and Stalinist Russia — which she shrewdly establishes as ii sides of the aforementioned coin, rather than opposing philosophies of Right and Left. Roofing the office of propaganda, the utilise of fear, and the nature of isolation and loneliness every bit preconditions for totalitarian dominion — the insights in Arendt'south tour de force are as piercing and relevant today as ever before, rendering The Origins of Totalitarianism utterly essential for anyone interested in political philosophy and its real-world application.
13. A Theory of Justice, by John Rawls
Since its 1971 publication, John Rawls' A Theory of Justice has chop-chop established itself as a archetype of political philosophy. Rawls takes every bit his starting identify the idea of the "veil of ignorance". Substantially, imagine you had no idea where yous'd end up in society. You could be rich or poor, good for you or sick. Now, what rules or laws would you concur to before inbound gild at this random place? Rawls argues most people would agree to basic healthcare, fairness, and then on — and uses this as his basis for his "justice every bit fairness" social contract whereby the land has an integral role to play in the lives of its citizens, which he builds upon in item throughout this bright and significant piece of work. On the syllabus of most if non all gimmicky political philosophy courses, Rawls' A Theory of Justice is an essential read.
fourteen. Anarchy, State, and Utopia, by Robert Nozick
Published only three years after Rawls' A Theory of Justice, Robert Nozick lays out a essentially different political vision in his electrifying 1974 Anarchy, State, and Utopia. Regarded now equally a foundational text in classical libertarian thought, Nozick provokes the reader with a series of mind-bending, powerful, and often very funny thought experiments on seemingly everyday assumptions nosotros make nearly political philosophy. In contrast to Rawls, Nozick advocates for an extremely minimal state, arguing annihilation beyond the "narrow functions of protection against forcefulness, theft, fraud, enforcement of contracts" violates private human rights. Chaos, State, and Utopia is a vivid discussion of some of the most contentious problems in gimmicky political theory that anyone interested in political philosophy would benefit from reading.
Farther reading
Are there whatsoever other books you think should exist on this list? Let u.s. know via email or drop us a message on Twitter or Instagram.
READING LISTS
View All Reading Lists
Essential Philosophy Books by Bailiwick
Source: https://philosophybreak.com/reading-lists/political-philosophy/
0 Response to "Most Important Books to Read for Aspiring Politicians"
Post a Comment