The Political Philosophy of Needs

Argues for the rehabilitation of 'human needs' as central to politics and political theory.

Lawrence A. Hamilton (Author)

9780521827829, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 14 August 2003

220 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.6 cm, 0.5 kg

This ambitious and lively book argues for a rehabilitation of the concept of 'human needs' as central to politics and political theory. Contemporary political philosophy has focused on issues of justice and welfare to the exclusion of the important issues of political participation, democratic sovereignty, and the satisfaction of human needs, and this has had a deleterious effect on political practice. Lawrence Hamilton develops a compelling positive conception of human needs: the evaluation of needs must be located within a more general analysis of institutions, but can in turn help to justify forms of coercive authority that are directed toward the transformation of political and social institutions and practices. His argument is animated throughout by provocative and original discussions of topics such as autonomy, recognition, rights, civil society, liberalism and democracy, and will interest a wide range of readers in political and social philosophy, political theory, law, development and policy.

Preface
Introduction
1. Liberalism's rights-preferences couple
2. Beyond the rights-preferences couple
3. The form and outline of the argument
Part I. The Nature of Needs: 4. Need categories
5. Vital needs
6. Particular social needs
7. Agency needs
8. The natures of needs: historical, normative, political
Part II. The Formation and Interpretation of Needs: 9. Generation and legitimation
10. Normative power and the institution of private property
11. Perception and interpretation
12. Oppression and need
13. True interests
14. The concepts of true interest
Part III. The Political Evaluation of Needs: 15. Freedom and rights: a critique of the concept of 'civil society'
16. Practices, institutions, and the evaluation of institutions
17. Roles: reclaiming the census
18. Practical reason and practical imperatives
Part IV. The State of Needs: 19. The state
20. The modern state, coercion and power
21. The state as ultimate evaluator and guarantor for meeting needs
22. Need priority: practical not theoretical
23. Political participation: procedural and institutional proposals
24. Legitimacy and paternalism
25. States of needs
Conclusion: What needs to be done? The case of South Africa
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Western philosophy, from c 1900 - [HPCF]