";s:4:"text";s:4496:" This is an extraordinary book that manages to achieve what seems to be an impossible task: to summarise the history of political ideas in one volume. Please try againSorry, we failed to record your vote. He was Professor of Politics at Princeton from 1988 to 1996, when he returned to Oxford to become Warden of New College and Professor of Political Theory until his retirement in 2009. (I am over 60 now.) For these cases and others, the book is extremely helpful at providing a serious review of the work and the information needed to place the author within a broader context of thinkers.An extremely well-composed survey of western political theory, written by an accomplished political theorist. Please try againSorry, we failed to record your vote. It arguably lacks the requisite structure and storylines to make it a great overview of the terrain. Please try your request again later. An Introduction to Political Philosophy But the question is always with us.A magisterial introduction to the history of political thought But I think that the author, Alan Ryan, has actually surpassed Sabine. Whatever this master commands they do; and his command never varies: it is never to retreat in battle, however great the odds, but always to remain in formation and to conquer or die.'
It is a rich and wonderful book that I heartily recommend to anyone interest in classical approaches to political theory. Certainly the most thorough and insightful overview since the Age of Reason. Please try againSorry, we failed to record your vote. In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading. Had to use it for political philosophy so not much choice in regard to my choice. That focus can be especially problematic, at times, when he discusses pre-17th century politics.
It's important to discuss political ideas, to think about how we rule and are ruled, and from where we get our assumptions. He does a wonderful job of taking you through the political climes and thoughts of all ages from Socrates and Aristotle into today's very divisive political arenas. Buying this book is the right decission. His survey is written from the perspective of a proponent, albeit a cautious one, of modern liberalism. Along with the usual suspects, there are interesting discussions of such unexpected writers as Polybius, Marsilius, and Sorel. Ryan notes that (page xxiii): “This is a book about the answers that historians, philosophers, theologians, practicing politician and would be revolutionaries have given to one question. On Politics: A History of Political Thought From Herodotus to the Present by Alan Ryan s a magisterial work that brings together some of the great thinkers in Western political philosophy, and summarizes their points, and the history behind them. Start by marking “On Politics: A History of Political Thought From Herodotus to the Present” as Want to Read: It obviously does have flaws though, or else I wouldn't have given it such a low rating. The chapters were without exception well written, rich in content, and helpful in provided needed context for a thinker and his work. THEME (403-405) 1.
Chapters run a regular course, the political philosopher is introduced and given a brief biography before their main contributions are discussed.