Liberalism - Softcover

GRAY

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0335194222 ISBN 13: 9780335194223

Publisher: Open University Press, 1995

Synopsis

Since the publication in 1986 of the first edition of 'Liberalism', both the world and the author's views have changed significantly. In this second edition, John Gray argues that, whereas liberalism was the political theory of modernity, it is ill-equipped to cope with the dilemmas of the postmodern condition. Developments in philosophy have undermined the attempts of liberal theorists to give liberal institutions a universal foundation in reason, while developments in political life have overturned the Enlightenment philosophy of history on which liberal theory depends. The liberal project - the project of stating universal principles which persons and communities with divergent conceptions of the good and differing views of the world can accept as framing terms of peaceful coexistence - has foundered. The task now, as Gray sees it, is to develop a pluralist political theory, in which the liberal problem of finding a modus vivendi among rival communities and worldviews is solved in postliberal terms.

About this title

Review:

"So for once the blurb on the jacket matches the content of the book, for it is indeed 'the first major study of leaving home tobe published in Britain.' As the author of what couldbe described as aminor study of a smaller sample of young people leaving home, I can only endorse this opinion and recommend the book to teachers and students of sociology at all levels."- Times Educational Supplement "...this volume gives a useful and more focused overview of the issues facing young adults as they move away from their childhood bases." - Adoption & Fostering "Leaving Home is a challenging and provocative text, whichwill be of value to practitioners, managers and academics alike." - Child and Family Social Work "...extremely useful."- Housing Studies "...a welcome and significant contribution to the youth policy literature." - Social Policy "...an impressive work based on a combination of survey data and in-depth research. It will provide stimulating reading for a wide variety of people from policy-makers and practitioners to researchers and adds greatly to our understanding of the phenomenon of leaving home, including homelessness." - Urban Studies

From the Back Cover:

Since the publication in 1986 of the first edition of Liberalism, both the world and the author's views have changed significantly. In this new edition, John Gray argues that whereas liberalism was the political theory of modernity, it is ill equipped to cope with the dilemmas of the postmodern condition.

About this edition

• Publisher: Open University Press
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0335194222
• ISBN 13: 9780335194223
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 128