Political Obligation

Political obligation is concerned with the clash between the individual's claim to self-governance and the right of the state to claim obedience. It is a central and ancient problem in political philosophy. In this authoritative introduction, Dudley Knowles frames the problem of obligation in terms of the duties citizens have to the state and each other. Drawing on a wide range of key works in political philosophy, from Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, David Hume and G. W. F. Hegel to John Rawls, A. John Simmons, Joseph Raz and Ronald Dworkin, "Political Obligation: A Critical Introduction" is an ideal starting point for those coming to the topic for the first time, as well as being an original and distinctive contribution to the literature. Knowles distinguishes the philosophical problem of obligation - which types of argument may successfully ground the legitimacy of the state and the duties of citizens - from the political problem of obligation - whether successful arguments apply to the actual citizens of particular states. Against the anarchist and modern skeptics, Knowles claims that a plurality of arguments promise success when carefully formulated and defended, and discusses in turn ancient and modern theories of social contract and consent, fairness and gratitude, utilitarianism, justice and a Samaritan duty of care for others. Against modern communitarians, he defends a distinctive liberalism: 'the state proposes, the citizen disposes'.

ISBN 0415416019   Volumes 1 ISBN13 9780415416016 (What's this?)   Weight (grammes) 362 Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd   Published in London Imprint Routledge   Series title Routledge Contemporary Political Philosophy Format Paperback   Height (mm) 234 Publication date 17 Aug 2009   Width (mm) 156 Library of Congress 2009006960   Spine width (mm) 18 DEWEY 320.011   Academic level Postgraduate DEWEY edition DC22   Alternative ISBN 9780415416009 Pages 232

Pt. I		The authority of the state and the duties of citizens: the conceptual apparatus		1
1		Political obligations and citizens' duties		3
2		The state and its legitimacy		17
3		Political authority		31
4		Questions of justification		49
5		The scope and limits of justificatory arguments		66
Pt. II		The arguments: ancient and modern, for and against		81
6		The anarchist challenge		83
7		Consent and contract		94
8		Hypothetical contract		117
9		The provision of benefits: arguments from fairness and gratitude		130
10		Utility, justice and Samaritan duties		145
11		Communities and citizenship		171
12		Conclusion		190
		Notes		191
		Bibliography		209
		Index		215

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