The Idea of the State (Contemporary Political Theory)

For a half-century or more, political theory has been characterized by a pronounced distrust of metaphysical or ontological speculation. Such a disposition has been sharply at odds with influential currents in post-war philosophy - both analytic and continental - where metaphysical issues have become a central preoccupation. The Idea of the State seeks to reaffirm the importance of systematic philosophical inquiry into the foundations of political life, and to show how such an approach can cast a new and highly instructive light on a variety of controversial, seemingly intractable problems of tolerance, civil disobedience, democracy and consent. The author considers the problem of the state in light of recent developments in philosophy and social thought, and seeks to provide an account of what the state really is. In doing so he pursues a range of fundamental issues pertaining to the office, the authority and the internal organization of political society. Half-title......Page 3 Series-title......Page 5 Title......Page 7 Copyright......Page 8 Dedication......Page 9 Table of Contents......Page 11 Preface......Page 13 Part 1 The Basic Idea......Page 17 1 The State as a Structure of Intelligibility......Page 19 1. Two ways of thinking about politics......Page 20 2. State and government......Page 24 3. Institutions and intelligibility......Page 29 4. The priority of ideas in a world of cause and effect......Page 40 5. The several senses of the ontological state......Page 44 6. Political practice and the theory of the state......Page 49 Part 2 Philosophical Foundations of the State......Page 55 2 Politics, Prudence and Philosophy......Page 57 1. Theories of government and the philosophy of the state......Page 58 2. Prudential and philosophical argument......Page 66 3. Hobbesian metaphysics......Page 74 4. The impossibility of a "political" conception......Page 88 5. The reasonable and the rational......Page 99 6. Reasons......Page 106 3 The Post-Kantian Convergence......Page 110 1. Coherence and ontology......Page 111 2. Objectivity......Page 121 3. The unity of philosophy......Page 133 4. Human action and ontological commitment......Page 143 5. Social institutions and the idea of the state......Page 154 Part 3 The Idea of the State......Page 163 4 The Omnicompetent State: Toleration and Limited Government......Page 165 1. The argument from impossibility......Page 167 2. Liberal toleration......Page 179 3. The omnicompetent state......Page 192 4. Ordinary politics and political philosophy......Page 203 5 The Absolute State: Authority and Resistance......Page 210 1. The autonomy argument......Page 211 2. Obligation, ought and duty......Page 216 3. The idea of political obligation......Page 228 4. The absolute state......Page 242 5. Resistance......Page 248 6. The problem of civil disobedience......Page 270 6 The Organic State: Democracy and Freedom......Page 282 1. Inequality and democratic government......Page 283 2. The organic state......Page 298 3. Universalization......Page 309 4. Moral freedom and the state......Page 319 Index......Page 341 The Idea Of The State Seeks To Reaffirm The Importance Of Systematic Philosophical Inquiry Into The Foundations Of Political Life, And To Show How Such An Approach Can Cast A New Highly Instructive Light On A Variety Of Controversial, Seemingly Intractable Problems Of Tolerance, Civil Disobedience, Democracy, And Counsel. The Author Considers The Problem Of The State In Light Of Recent Developments In Philosophy And Social Thought, And Seeks To Provide An Account Of What The State Really Is. In Doing So He Pursues A Range Of Fundamental Issues Pertaining To The Office, The Authority, And The Internal Organization Of Political Society.--jacket. 1. The State As A Structure Of Intelligibility -- 2. Politics, Prudence And Philosophy -- 3. The Post-kantian Convergence -- 4. The Omnicompetent State : Toleration And Limited Government -- 5. The Absolute State : Authority And Resistance -- 6. The Organic State : Democracy And Freedom. Peter J. Steinberger. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Political theory has been characterized by a pronounced distrust of metaphysical or ontological speculation for more than a half-century. However, Peter J. Steinberger reaffirms the importance of systematic philosophical inquiry into the foundations of political life in view of changing trends. Steinberger demonstrates how such an approach can cast a new and instructive light on a variety of controversial, seemingly intractable problems of tolerance, civil disobedience, democracy and consent.

This book seeks to reaffirm the importance of systematic philosophical inquiry into the foundations of political life.