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This Book Concerns The Foundations And Implications Of A Particular Form Of Liberal Political Theory. Colburn Argues That One Should See Liberalism As A Political Theory Committed To The Value Of Autonomy, Understood As Consisting In An Agent Deciding For Oneself What Is Valuable And Living Life In Accordance With That Decision. Understanding Liberalism This Way Offers Solutions To Various Problems That Beset Liberal Political Theory, On Various Levels. On The Theoretical Level, Colburn Claims That This Position Is The Only Defensible Theory Of Liberalism In Current Circulation, Arguing That Other More Dominant Theories Are Either Self-contradictory Or Unattractive On Closer Inspection. And On The Practical Level, Colburn Draws Out The Substantive Commitments Of This Position In Educational, Economic, And Social Policy. Hence, The Study Provides A Blueprint For A Radical Liberal Political Agenda Which Will Be Of Interest To Philosophers And To Politicians Alike.
This book investigates whether autonomy serves as the most defensible foundational value for a coherent and practical liberal political theory. Ben Colburn, a scholar of political philosophy, evaluates existing liberal frameworks to argue that they often suffer from internal contradictions or lack of appeal. He proposes a specific conception of autonomy—defined as an agent's capacity to determine their own values and live accordingly—as the necessary core for a robust liberal agenda. By applying this framework, the author seeks to resolve theoretical inconsistencies while providing actionable guidance for educational, economic, and social policy.
What You Will Find
Scholars and students of political philosophy frequently identify this work as a rigorous contribution to the debate surrounding liberal foundations. The text is noted for its dense, analytical prose that demands close engagement with the author's specific definitions of agency and value.
Page Count:
165
Publication Date:
2010-01-01
Publisher:
Routledge
ISBN-10:
0203855337
ISBN-13:
9780203855331