Arguing about Political Philosophy

Front Cover
Matt Zwolinski
Routledge, 2014 - Philosophy - 721 pages

This second edition of Arguing About Political Philosophy is the most complete, up-to-date, and interdisciplinary anthology of its kind. Its selections cover both classic philosophical sources such as Hobbes and Rousseau, and contemporary figures such as Robert Nozick and G.A. Cohen. But additional excerpts from economists, psychologists, novelists, and legal theorists help students from diverse intellectual backgrounds to connect with and appreciate the problems and distinctive methodology of political philosophy.

This second edition also goes beyond any other anthology on the market in its coverage of traditionally under-represented views such as libertarianism, neo-socialism, feminism, and critical race theory. And it is one of the only anthologies to go beyond A Theory of Justice in its coverage of the political thought of John Rawls.

The volume is divided into 3 parts - Foundational Concepts; Government, the Economy and Morality; and Applied Political Philosophy - covering core arguments and emerging debates in topics like:

  • social contract theory
  • political economy
  • property rights
  • freedom
  • equality
  • immigration
  • global distributive justice

The new companion website offers valuable resources for instructors and students alike, including sample quizzes, exams, and writing assignments, extensive study questions for each reading, and an online version of the "What's Your Political Philosophy" self-assessment.

Other editions - View all

About the author (2014)

Matt Zwolinski is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of San Diego, co-director of USD's Institute for Law and Philosophy, and the founder of and frequent contributor to the popular Bleeding Heart Libertarians blog. He is the author of numerous articles in political philosophy on topics such as exploitation, price gouging, and sweatshop labor.

Bibliographic information