Political thinking : the perennial questions

Who should rule? Does government have any responsibility for truth and morality? Is power the only source of order? Is it good to have power? Is avenging crime a proper aim of government?

These are just a few of the thirty questions posed Glenn Tinder's best-selling Political Thinking: The Perennial Questions, just released in its fifth edition. In Tinder's unique approach, students are introduced to political philosophy through questions, not answers; in this way, they are encouraged to actively engage in the process of political thinking, just as scores of political philosophers have done through the ages. Indeed, great philosophers' responses to these problems are examined throughout the text so that students can better understand the continuing importance of these questions-but the focus is squarely on the questions instead of the answers. Students explore and think critically about Power, Equality, Limits, and ther issues at the heart of political theory. As they read, they emerge with a better understanding of political philosophy as well as practice.

The Questions span the spectrum of thought; each one is fully explained, and many alternative answers are discussed objectively. The text, organized in a flexible manner that allows instructors to easily integrate it into their curricula, features brief biographical sketches of important political thinkers and special introductory and concluding chapters that help students apply what they've learned to today's political environment.

As highly regarded as Political Thinking has been through four previous editions, this fifth edition appeals to an even larger audience with the inclusion of a new question on feminism, and an overall restructuring to appropriately emphasize the feminist perspective. The text is jargon-free, clearer, and more readable than ever before.