Philosophy and Real Politics

A trenchant critique of established ideas in political philosophy and a provocative call for change

Many contemporary political thinkers are gripped by the belief that their task is to develop an ideal theory of rights or justice for guiding and judging political actions. But in Philosophy and Real Politics, Raymond Geuss argues that philosophers should first try to understand why real political actors behave as they actually do. Far from being applied ethics, politics is a skill that allows people to survive and pursue their goals. To understand politics is to understand the powers, motives, and concepts that people have and that shape how they deal with the problems they face in their particular historical situations.

Philosophy and Real Politics both outlines a historically oriented, realistic political philosophy and criticizes liberal political philosophies based on abstract conceptions of rights and justice.

Raymond Geuss is professor emeritus of philosophy at the University of Cambridge. His many books include A World without Why; Outside Ethics; Public Goods, Private Goods (all Princeton); and Not Thinking like a Liberal.