The Political Philosophy of the British Idealists
Selected Studies

This book offers a reassessment of the political philosophy of the British Idealists.

Peter P. Nicholson (Author)

9780521108218, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 9 April 2009

372 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.1 cm, 0.55 kg

This book offers a reassessment of the political philosophy of the British Idealists, a group of once influential and now neglected nineteenth-century Hegelian philosophers, whose work has been much misunderstood. Peter Nicholson focuses on F. H. Bradley's idea of morality and moral philosophy; T. H. Green's theory of the Common Good, of the social nature of rights, of freedom, and of state interference; and Bernard Bosanquet's notorious theory of the General Will. By examining the arguments offered by the Idealists and by their critics the author is able to penetrate the deep layers of hostile comment laid down by several generations of later writers and to show that these ideas, once properly understood, are not only defensible but interesting and important.

Preface
Abbreviations
Introduction
Study 1. Bradley's theory of morality
Study 2. Green and the common good
Study 3. Green, rights and property
Study 4. Green's theory of freedom
Study 5. Green and state action
Study 6. Bosanquet and the general will Bibliography.

Subject Areas: Social & political philosophy [HPS]