The Great Political Theories, Vol. 1

Customer Reviews

“The core of political philosophy has always been the study of those central institutions, organizations and personnel that have the power to issue directions and rules, and the relationship of the governed to government. The recurring problems of political philosophy are those concerning the nature of society, law, obligation, rights, duties, command, responsiblity and obedience. In modern theory, there has been a preoccupation with sovereignty, power, influence, and groups.”

Over the course of both volumes, Curtis presents a methodical layout of these issues, starting with the ancient Greeks to modern times, and it lives up to the aspirations stated up front. The ebb and flow of the often multiple jurisdictions and centers of power within a state often bring about the same questions in different eras. What rights do an individual have against the power of the state, and from where does this power derive?

A related question to this necessarily involves what the proper role a citizen or group has within the government, whether they should be identified solely as one of the whole, or whether they are members of a higher order, or whether their primary identity should be derived as biological and rational animals under the laws of nature.

As evidence that this is concerned only with theory and not history (where some leaders may have corrupted the theory), Marxism and nationalism, two of the most often-arising philsophies of the 20th century, are only given brief treatment, and even then, only on its merits as a theory, not practice.

The publishing date of the book may require some revisions of the organization of the later chapters, but for a brief two-volume collection of the writings on political philsophy, this book is a good buy.