Product Description

This book - a collection of eleven essays by one of the most interesting moral philosophers currently writing - is written from a perspective that is at once sympathetic towards, and critical of, liberal political philosophy. The essays explore the capacity of liberal thought, and of the moral traditions on which it draws, to accommodate a variety of challenges posed by the changing circumstances of the modern world. The essays consider how, in an era of rapid globalization, when peoples lives are structured by social arrangements and institutions of ever-increasing size, complexity, and scope, we can best conceive of the responsibilities of individual agents and the normative significance of peoples diverse commitments and allegiances. The volume is linked by common themes including the responsibilities persons have in virtue of belonging to a community, the compatibility of such obligations with equality, the demands of distributive justice in general, and liberalisms relationship to liberty, community, and equality.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1599147 in Books
• Published on: 2001-02-22
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 221 pages

Review
Boundaries and Allegiances is lucid, judicious, and critically astute. Scheffler has reflected deeply on the central issues which engage contemporary political and moral philosophers, and these essays succeed in displaying his range of interests while retaining an impressive degree of thematic integrity. Ethics The essays in Samuel Scheffler's Boundaries and Allegiances provide an extremely clear, subtle and astute analysis of some of the most pressing questions facing contemporary liberal political thought. Elizabeth Ashford Scheffler aims to weigh the strengths and weaknesses of liberalism in confronting [its] various opponents and challenges ... The essays are lucid and accessible ... models of intelligent, informed, involved and unpretentious philosophical work. Saul Smilansky, Times Literary Supplement [This book] stands out because it combines high-level philosophical thought with an awareness of practical political concerns in need of urgent attention. Political Studies Scheffler's recent contribution to liberal philosophy is - as always - thought-provoking and warrants serious consideration. ...bringing together Scheffler's thoughts on liberalism and responsibility advances the debate on the intricate relationship between liberalism as a philosophical enterprise and liberalism as a political doctrine geared at solving pressing social problems. Required reading for liberals of any persuasion as well as those interested in tackling the theoretical or practical deficiencies within liberal thought. Political Studies 01/06/2002 Scheffler, a Professor of Law and Philosophy at the University of California at Berkeley, has been one of the most talented and productive moral philosophers in the analytic tradition for the past two decades, and the essays in this volume are characteristically thoughtful, subtle, and well written. Ethics and International Affairs