Product Description

This edition of Will Kymlicka's best selling critical introduction to contemporary political theory has been fully revised to include many of the most significant developments in Anglo-American political philosophy in the last 11 years, particularly the new debates on political liberalism, deliberative democracy, civic republicanism, nationalism and cultural pluralism. The book now includes two new chapters on citizenship theory and multiculturalism, in addition to updated chapters on utilitarianism, liberal egalitarianism, libertarianism, socialism, communitarianism, and feminism. The many thinkers discussed include G. A. Cohen, Ronald Dworkin, William Galston , Carol Gilligan, R. M. Hare, Catherine Mackinnon, David Miller, Philippe Van Parijs, Susan Okin, Robert Nozick, John Rawls, John Roemer, Michael Sandel, Charles Taylor, Michael Walzer, and Iris Young. Extended guides to further reading have been added at the end of each chapter, listing the most important books and articles on each school of thought, as well as relevant journals and websites. Covering some of the most advanced contemporary thinking, Will Kymlicka writes in an engaging, accessible, and non-technical way to ensure the book is suitable for readers approaching these concepts for the first time. This second edition promises to build on the original edition's success as a key text in the teaching of modern political theory.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7869 in Books
• Published on: 2002-09-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 512 pages

About the Author
Will Kymlicka is Professor of Philosophy at Queens University, Canada and a recurrent Visiting Professor in the Nationalism Studies programme at the Central European University in Budapest. His most recent publications with Oxford University Press include Citizenship in Diverse Societies (co-edited with Wayne Norman, 2000) and Politics in the Vernacular: Nationalism, Multiculturalism, Citizenship (2001). The first edition of Contemporary Political Philosophy was translated into eight
languages.

Customer Reviews

Clear and concise overview of contemporary ethics
This book really is a gem. Taking the reader through the key issues of contemporary political and ethical theory, Kymlicka manages to admirably disentangle the thorny writing style of Rawls to lay down for the beginner the essential elements of "A Theory of Justice." Taking this as his foundation, he builds from the Rawlsian preamble the critiques made of Rawls by Nozick, Walzer and other schools of political thought.

This approach works very well. However, there a few factual errors - especially in the discussion of Rawls - which necessitate the reader looking back to the original texts. Which is no bad thing, considering a reader really ought to consider this book only an appetiser for the heavy yet enjoyable fodder that Rawls and Nozick offer.

Recommended for all those with an interest in the subject and for students in the first couple of years of undergraduate study.

A good overview
This book is well worth getting hold of since it contains a worthy selection of essays introducing you to the subject. As a downside it tends to focus too much on particular 'popular' areas, however as with most academic areas you cannot expect conclusive coverage in one book! A worth addition to a students library.