Sovereignty
An Inquiry into the Political Good

Bertrand de Jouvenel examines the relationship between the distribution of power and the creation of an ethical society.

Bertrand de Jouvenel (Author), J. F. Huntington (Translated by)

9781107600171, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 26 January 2012

336 pages
21.6 x 14 x 1.9 cm, 0.43 kg

Bertrand de Jouvenel (1903–1987) was a renowned French philosopher and political economist. In Sovereignty he turned his attention to the relationship between the distribution of power and the creation of an ethical society. More specifically, he was concerned with the potential confusion of the body politic resulting from the development of increasingly dynamic and nebulous social conditions. The text is written in an exploratory fashion, reflecting the authorial perception of an ambiguity in modern political structures. This translated Cambridge edition, which was first published in 1957, was derived from a 1955 French original. It constitutes an important contribution to post-war political theory that will remain of value to anyone with an interest in questions relating to political structures and the nature of authority.

Preface
Translator's note
Introduction
Part I. Authority: 1. The essence of politics
2. Authority
3. The office of leadership and the office of adjustment
4. The group
5. Of the relations between authorities
Part II. The Political Good: 6. Of benevolence in the sovereign will
7. The problem of the common good
8. Of social friendship
9. Justice
Part III. The Sovereign: 10. On the development of the idea of the sovereign will
11. The sovereign as legislator
12. The theory of the limited will and 'fortunate powerlessness'
Part IV. Liberty: 13. The political consequences of Descartes
14. The political consequences of Hobbes
15. Liberty
16. Liberty of opinion and natural light
Conclusion
Index.

Subject Areas: Social & political philosophy [HPS]