Political Conduct

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Harvard University Press, Apr 15, 2007 - Philosophy - 283 pages

This book explores how the processes and practices of politics shape political values, such as liberty, justice, equality, and democracy. Mining the history of political episodes and political thinkers, including Caesar and Machiavelli, Mark Philp argues that it is through political activity that "values are articulated and embraced, and they become powerful motivating forces."

Political Conduct is thus an attempt to inform and enrich political theory--to show that its principles would be more relevant to actual politics if they were immersed in history and practice. Philp argues for a separation between moral and political philosophy and proposes that a less abstract and ideal approach to political philosophy than that provided by Rawls, Dworkin, Nagel, and Cohen would be more useful in illuminating the conduct of politicians and the limitations on what they can achieve.

 

Contents

Introduction
1
Rendering unto Caesar
19
Machiavelli and Political Virtue
37
The Character of Political Rule
55
Resolved to Rule
76
Must Power Corrupt?
97
Loyalty in Politics
117
Officials and Public Servants
141
Resistance and Protest
169
Democratic Citizenship
193
Institutions and Integrity
214
Notes
243
Copyright

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About the author (2007)

Mark Philp is former Head of the Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Oxford, and is a Fellow and Tutor in Politics at Oriel College, Oxford.

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