Description
Liberalism: The Basics is an engaging and accessible introduction to liberalism. The author provides a comprehensive overview of liberal practices, liberal values and critically analyses liberal theories, allowing for a richer understanding of liberalism as a whole.
The book is divided into three parts:
- Liberal practices: the rule of law, free speech, freedom of association and movement, economic freedom and sexual freedom.
- Liberal values: freedom, autonomy, equality, and the universal values of political societies – the communal identity – and well-being of their members.
- Liberal theories: natural rights, utilitarianism, Kant's rationalism and the contemporary theories of John Rawls and the post-Rawlsians.
Presented in a clear and concise way, this book will be an ideal introduction for students and scholars of liberalism, political philosophy, political theory and political ideology.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Part I: Liberal Practices
1. The Idea of a Practice and the Initial Distinction between Liberal and Illiberal Societies
2. The Rule of Law
3. Free Speech
4. Freedom of Association and Movement
5. Economic Freedom
6. Sexual Freedom
Part II: Liberal Values
Introduction
7. The Idea and Value of Freedom
8. The Equality of the Participants
9. Community
10. Liberalism and Human Well-being
Part III: Liberal Theories
Introduction
11. Libertarian Theories
12. Utilitarian Theories of Liberalism
13. Kant's Idea of Freedom as Rational Self-determination
14. Contemporary Theories of Liberalism
