Against Politics: On Government, Anarchy and Order (Routledge Studies in Social and Political Thought)

Is the state a necessity, a convenience, or neither? It enforces collective choices in which some override the preferences and dispose of the resources of others. Moreover, collective choice serves as its own source of authority and preempts the space it wishes to occupy. The morality and efficacy of the result are perennial questions central to political philosophy. In Against Politics Jasay takes a closely reasoned stand, based on modern rational choice arguments, for rejecting much of mainstream thought about these matters. In the first part of the book, Excuses , he assesses the standard justification of government based consent, the power of constitutions to achieve limited government, and ideas for reforming politics. In the second part, Emergent Solutions , he explores the force of first principles to secure liberties and rights and some of the potential of spontaneous conventions for generating ordered anarchy. Written with clarity and simplicity, this powerful volume represents the central part of Jasay's recent work. Fully accessible to the general reader, it should stimulate the specialist reader to fresh thought.

is The State A Necessity, A Convenience, Or Neither? It Enforces Collective Choices In Which Some Override The Preferences And Dispose Of The Resources Of Others. Moreover, Collective Choice Serves As Its Own Source Of Authority And Preempts The Space It Wishes To Occupy. The Morality And Efficacy Of The Result Are Perennial Questions Central To Political Philosophy.
in against Politics Jasay Takes A Closely Reasoned Stand, Based On Modern Rational Choice Arguments, For Rejecting Much Of Mainstream Thought About These Matters. In The First Part Of The Book, Excuses, He Assesses The Standard Justification Of Government Based Consent, The Power Of Constitutions To Achieve Limited Government, And Ideas For Reforming Politics. In The Second Part, Emergent Solutions , He Explores The Force Of First Principles To Secure Liberties And Rights And Some Of The Potential Of Spontaneous Conventions For Generating Ordered Anarchy.
written With Clarity And Simplicity, This Powerful Volume Represents The Central Part Of Jasay's Recent Work. Fully Accessible To The General Reader, It Should Stimulate The Specialist Reader To Fresh Thought.

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arguing That Government Leads To Vice, De Jasay Offers Eleven Essays Written From 1986 To 1996, Almost All Appearing As Originally Presented At Conferences, Lectures, Or In Journals. The First Section Contains Seven Critical Essays Which Examine What The Author Terms Fundamentalist And Reformist Theses. Topics Include Limited Government And The Thought Of Popper And Hayek. The Second Part Formulates Alternative Theoretical Positions, Including The Argument That Certain Social Virtues, Achievements, And Functionally Valuable Institutions Are, As Hume Has Suggested, Prior To Government. Annotation C. By Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 Introduction......Page 10 Self-contradictory contractarianism......Page 20 Is limited government possible?......Page 48 Frogs' legs, shared ends, and the rationality of politics......Page 73 Values and the social order......Page 82 The twistable is not testable: reflexions on the political thought of Karl Popper......Page 114 Hayek: some missing pieces......Page 129 The rule of forces, the force of rules......Page 140 Before resorting to politics......Page 152 Conventions: some thoughts on the economics of ordered anarchy......Page 201 The glass is half-full......Page 222 Liberties, rights, and the standing of groups......Page 227 Index......Page 251 Government depends on collective decision making. Even in peaceful democracies, some decide for all. The author challenges the morality of this position. It is not different political systems that are at fault as the nature of politics itself