Description
There has been a significant renewal of interest in the British Idealists in recent years. Scholars have acknowledged their critical contribution to the development of a communitarian theory of the relation of the individual to society and a widely accepted theory of rights.
British Idealism: A Guide for the Perplexed offers a clear and thorough account of this key philosophical movement, providing an outline of the key terms and central arguments employed by the idealists. David Boucher and Andrew Vincent lay out the historical context and employ analytical and critical methods to explain the philosophical background and key concepts. The book explores the contribution of British Idealism to contemporary philosophical, political and social debates, emphasising the continuing relevance of the central themes. Geared towards the specific requirements of students who need to reach a sound understanding of British Idealism, the book serves as an ideal companion to study of this most influential and important of movements.
Table of Contents
1. Context and Background \ 2. The Absolute, Forms of Experience: Coherence Theory Truth \ 3. Logic and Judgement \ 4. Divine Immanence \ 5. Hegelian Evolution: Naturalistic Versus Spiritual \ 6. Social Aesthetics \ 7. Freedom and History: Speculative and Critical Philosophy of History \ 8. Self-Realisation and the Common Good \ 9. Human Rights: Political or Metaphysical \ 10. Collectivism and Individualism: Socialism and Liberalism, Citizenship and the Enabling State \ 11. International Relations: Realism versus Idealism \ Further Reading \ Index.
Author(s)
David Boucher, David Boucher is Professor of Political Theory at Cardiff University, UK and Director of the Graduate School in Humanities. He is the Chairman of the Trustees of the Collingwood Society and Director of the Collingwood and British Idealism Centre at Cardiff. His many published books and articles include Political Thinkers: From Socrates to the Present (edited with Paul Kelly, OUP, 2003), The British Idealists (CUP, 1997) and British Idealism and Political Theory (with Andrew Vincent, Edinburgh University Press, 2000).
Andrew Vincent,
Andrew Vincent is Professor of Political Theory at Sheffield University and Director of the Sheffield Centre for Political Ideologies. He has authored and edited a number of books, including Modern Political Ideologies (Blackwell, 2nd edition 1995), Political Theory: Tradition and Diversity (CUP, 1997), The Nature of Political Theory (OUP, 2004) and British Idealism and Political Theory (with David Boucher, Edinburgh University Press, 2000).