Abstract

Written mainly as a text book, but also for the general reader, this book aims to provide an introduction to the subject of political philosophy. All important past political philosophers make their appearence in the text including Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hegel, Marx and John Stuart Mill. Contemporary philosophers such as Rawls, Dworkin and Nozick are also included. The book introduces 12 central political concepts - power, the state, sovereignty, law, authority, justice, equality, rights, property, freedom, democracy and the public interest. Each of these topics are analyzed, theories about them explained, and problems discussed.