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Review
superb ... the best introduction to political philosophy that I've ever seen (Dr Dudley Knowles, Department of Philosophy, Glasgow University )
He writes with an enviable clarity and even-handedness. (Alan Ryan )
'This book is the ideal introduction to the subject and should be widely read. It is a book I wish I had written.' (Political Studies ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
He writes with an enviable clarity and even-handedness. (Alan Ryan )
'This book is the ideal introduction to the subject and should be widely read. It is a book I wish I had written.' (Political Studies ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"A lucid and enviably clear introduction to some of the most important questions of political philosophy...The book is written in a style that manages to be chatty without being irritating, something not often achieved by professional philosophers aspiring to write for a general or student audience."--Matt Matravers, International Journal of Philosophical Studies
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
94 of 94 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a philosophy graduate I can without hesitation recommend this book as the finest introduction to political philosophy. Covering all the major areas of comtemporary debate, Wolff offers an exceptionally clear account of the issues and arguments.
Beginning which the fundamental question of why there should be a state at all, he moves towards the crucial debates that informed most 20th century politics: the distribution of goods in society and the level of personal freedom each of us should enjoy.
The book also offers clear expositions of past masters of political philosophy, from Plato through Hobbes and Locke, to Mill and Marx. To read this book is to be given a crash course in the history of political philosophy, as well as the perfect preface to studying the texts themselves.
This book is ideal for a student just beginning their studies,or as a refresher course, but would be just as suitable for the general reader seeking a broad account of comtemporary and historical political thought.
Beginning which the fundamental question of why there should be a state at all, he moves towards the crucial debates that informed most 20th century politics: the distribution of goods in society and the level of personal freedom each of us should enjoy.
The book also offers clear expositions of past masters of political philosophy, from Plato through Hobbes and Locke, to Mill and Marx. To read this book is to be given a crash course in the history of political philosophy, as well as the perfect preface to studying the texts themselves.
This book is ideal for a student just beginning their studies,or as a refresher course, but would be just as suitable for the general reader seeking a broad account of comtemporary and historical political thought.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Jonathon Wolff has written an excellent and easy to digest intro to political philosophy. It's not particularly long and doesn't provide an in depth look at many topics. But it covers off the basics and sets out the key ideas and people. He has also used a semi chronological layout which helps give a sense of the way thought has developed over time. A good resource for a student, but certainly readable enough for someone taking a casual interest in the subject area.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is probably the best introduction available, being lucid and succinct, it also takes just the right approach to the subject for the beginner. Instead of a chapter by chapter guide to the main thinkers or theories, Wolff cleverly structures the book in such a way that the student is gently coaxed into exploring the fundamental questions of political philosophy for himself. The author notes at the beginning that it is sometimes said that 'who gets what?' and 'who says so?' are the only two questions of importance in the subject. Whilst denying this to be entirely the case, Wolff puts these questions firmly into intial context by asking why we need the state at all and then proceeds to ask if we do need the state, who indeed should govern it? He then explores the issue of the distribution of goods before returning to the 'who says who gets what?' and by the end of the book the reader should be able to explore that question through the lenses of the competing theories of today, such as feminism or communitarianism.
I was lucky enough to have the author as one of my lecturers at university and, indeed, to take my tutorials in political philosophy in my final year. As a working class student with little self-esteem and who was failing abjectly to mix within the rarefied air of an elite university, Mr Wolff admirably strived to boost my confidence and his tutorials (and lectures) were a model of patience and clarity. This book is imbubed with these qualities throughout and thus can't be recommended highly enough. Whether you are an a-level student or a 1st year undergrad, this book will have you asking the right questions and position you to look in more detail at the major theories.
I was lucky enough to have the author as one of my lecturers at university and, indeed, to take my tutorials in political philosophy in my final year. As a working class student with little self-esteem and who was failing abjectly to mix within the rarefied air of an elite university, Mr Wolff admirably strived to boost my confidence and his tutorials (and lectures) were a model of patience and clarity. This book is imbubed with these qualities throughout and thus can't be recommended highly enough. Whether you are an a-level student or a 1st year undergrad, this book will have you asking the right questions and position you to look in more detail at the major theories.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent
This is a brilliant book by Wolff! He writes in a very logical and easy to follow way, explaining major concepts (often complicated) in a very accessible way. Read more
Published 6 months ago by DominicJC
the best introduction to political philosophy
It is now deservedly established as the best introduction to political philosophy. It is concise, rich and inspiring as it would make one to follow the ideas discussed further. Read more
Published 8 months ago by S. MOHAMADI
Philosophy study
My daughter read this book from a library, but it is so good it is helping with her philosophy degree at Oxford
Published 15 months ago by N. Hunt
Fantastic bite sized introduction to a daunting subject.
This is the first book I have read about political philosophy, I was looking for a grounding in some basics without getting lost in the potentially overwhelming subject... Read more
Published 16 months ago by R. Cutts
Easy to follow but very basic
Very straighforward and easy to follow the arguments are set out very clearly with counter arguments, however the book is only a very very basic introduction and doesn't cover a... Read more
Published on 26 April 2010 by B. Oliveira
Short and very comprehensible introduction
This is the perfect introductory book for those who can't be bothered to study in depth the massive, and (often) dull political philosophy classics by Penguin editions (you know,... Read more
Published on 14 May 2009 by Yannis Theocharis
highly recommended for the layman
This book functions on a number of different levels. Although it is clearly written for the university student ; it can easily appeal to the layman equally well. Read more
Published on 27 Feb 2009 by Mr. J. Hudson
A critical but sympathetic guide to the persuasiveness of liberal...
Jonathan Wolff defines the territory of political philosophy by reference to the modern distinction between descriptive and normative political study; i.e. Read more
Published on 9 Sep 2007 by S. Briscoe
Very accessible and honestly engaging
As an upper sixth-form student hoping to pursue a partial degree in philosophy, this book has been an excellent introduction to the central issues of political philosophy. Read more
Published on 10 Nov 2006 by cann
Good though incomplete
Enjoyable reading for those who want to become acquainted with some questions of political philosophy. Read more
Published on 21 Sep 2002 by Carlos do Carmo Carapinha
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