Political Philosophy versus History?
Contextualism and Real Politics in Contemporary Political Thought

Leading scholars contribute original and timely essays which discuss how political philosophy should be studied today.

Jonathan Floyd (Edited by), Marc Stears (Edited by)

9780521146883, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 4 August 2011

240 pages
22.6 x 15.2 x 1.5 cm, 0.36 kg

'The contributors to Floyd and Stears' Political Philosophy versus History? engage in a series of spirited inquiries into the relationship between political philosophy and history. In so doing they mount challenges to 'contextualism' and assess the possibilities and prospects for a distinctly 'realist' mode of theorizing that is at once historically situated and normatively grounded. The essays collected here challenge, and will likely change, the terms of contemporary debates about the character and condition of political theory in our time.' Terence Ball, Professor, School of Politics and Global Studies, Arizona State University

Is the way in which political philosophy is conducted today too ahistorical? Does such ahistoricism render political philosophy too abstract? Is political philosophy thus incapable of dealing with the realities of political life? This volume brings together some of the world's leading political philosophers to address these crucial questions. The contributors focus especially on political philosophy's pretensions to universality and on its strained relationship with the world of real politics. Some chapters argue that political philosophers should not be cowed by the accusations levied against them from outside of their own field. Others insist that these accusations require a dramatic reshaping of normative political thought. The volume will spark controversy across political philosophy and beyond.

Introduction Jonathan Floyd and Marc Stears
1. Rescuing political theory from the tyranny of history Paul Kelly
2. From contextualism, to mentalism, to behaviourism Jonathan Floyd
3. Contingency and judgement in history of political philosophy Bruce Haddock
4. Political philosophy and the dead hand of its history Gordon Graham
5. Politics, political theory, and its history Iain Hampsher-Monk
6. Constraint, freedom, and exemplar Melissa Lane
7. History and reality Andrew Sabl
8. The new realism Bonnie Honig and Marc Stears
Afterword Jonathan Floyd.

Subject Areas: Political science & theory [JPA], History of ideas [JFCX], Social & political philosophy [HPS]