Social and Political Philosophy: Readings from Plato to Gandhi

by Editors John Somerville, Ronald E. Santoni

Book Overview

An anthology of basic statements by the most influential social and political philosophers of Western civilization. Includes Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Jefferson, Thoreau, Mill, Marx and Engels, Lenin, Mussolini, Hitler, Dewey, and Gandhi.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385012381
• ISBN13: 9780385012386
• Release Date: September 1963
• Publisher: Anchor Books
• Length: 560 Pages
• Weight: 0.87 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Political Philosophy at its best

In order to understand the political context with live in today this book is essential. From Socrates to Ghandhi this book provide the most important writings of the most influential writers of Western culture for the past 2,000+ years. Whats nice about this book is that you can read it more than once and find new interpretations the second and third time through. I have created a list of quotes from the various excerpts that i plan on incorporating in my future writing.

Raises the enduring and fundamental questions of mankind

This book is an essential compendium of the writings which have most affected 20th century thought, social structures, and politics. Despite our technilogical advances in the 1990's, these issues have persisted over the past 2,500 years. Mark Twain said, "Thinking is some of the hardest work that you can do, which explains why so few people engage in it." This book will elicit a great deal of thinking; and, rightfully, will raise more questions than it answers. It is an essential compilation for those who wish to become familiar with these issues and for those who whish to have a reference close at hand. It belongs in every home library.