The Skeptic's Oakeshott by Steven Anthony Gerencser - 9780312223038 - Compare Discount Book Prices & Save up to 90%

The Skeptic’s Oakeshott poses the thesis that Michael Oakeshott’s political philosophy is best understood from the vantage point of his skepticism and his intellectual affinity to Hobbes. Margaret Thatcher based much of her political philosophy on Oakeshott’s theories, but Gerencser shows how she widely misinterpreted his work. He argues persuasively against those who understand Oakeshott in terms of the influence of British idealism. Instead, Gerencser argues that Oakeshott adopts and softens Hobbes' idea of consent as the basis of political authority. By insisting that political authority has its source in acknowledgement and recognition, Oakeshott’s philosophy opens the doors to democratic politics. The book ends with persuasive criticisms of Oakeshott.

		The Skeptic's Oakeshott by Steven Anthony Gerencser ISBN-10: 9780312223038 ISBN-10: 0-312-22303-X ISBN-13: 9780312223038 ISBN-13: 978-0-312-22303-8 Hardcover 2000-05-05 Palgrave Macmillan Find Lowest Price
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Product Description The Skeptic’s Oakeshott poses the thesis that Michael Oakeshott’s political philosophy is best understood from the vantage point of his skepticism and his intellectual affinity to Hobbes. Margaret Thatcher based much of her political philosophy on Oakeshott’s theories, but Gerencser shows how she widely misinterpreted his work. He argues persuasively against those who understand Oakeshott in terms of the influence of British idealism. Instead, Gerencser argues that Oakeshott adopts and softens Hobbes' idea of consent as the basis of political authority. By insisting that political authority has its source in acknowledgement and recognition, Oakeshott’s philosophy opens the doors to democratic politics. The book ends with persuasive criticisms of Oakeshott.
Book Description The Skeptic’s Oakeshott poses the thesis that Michael Oakeshott’s political philosophy is best understood from the vantage point of his skepticism and his intellectual affinity to Hobbes. Margaret Thatcher based much of her political philosophy on Oakeshott’s theories, but Gerencser shows how she widely misinterpreted his work. He argues persuasively against those who understand Oakeshott in terms of the influence of British idealism. Instead, Gerencser argues that Oakeshott adopts and softens Hobbes' idea of consent as the basis of political authority. By insisting that political authority has its source in acknowledgement and recognition, Oakeshott’s philosophy opens the doors to democratic politics. The book ends with persuasive criticisms of Oakeshott.
Download Description The Skeptic's Oakeshott poses the thesis that Michael Oakeshott's political philosophy is best understood from the vantage point of his skepticism and his intellectual affinity to Hobbes. Margaret Thatcher based much of her political philosophy on Oakeshott's theories, but Gerencser shows how she widely misinterpreted his work. He argues persuasively against those who understand Oakeshott in terms of the influence of British idealism. Instead, Gerencser argues that Oakeshott adopts and softens Hobbes' idea of consent as the basis of political authority. By insisting that political authority has its source in acknowledgement and recognition, Oakeshott's philosophy opens the doors to democratic politics. The book ends with persuasive criticisms of Oakeshott.
Reviews

For academics only. Boring academics, that is. Strictly for academic Oakeshott scholars, and surely put together to impress only them. Clunkily written, pedantic, and of no use whatsoever for the general reader, or even the non-academic Oakeshott fan. Sample, but utterly typical, passage: "The suggestions that I have just made, that Oakeshott changes some fundamental elements of his philosphy and that among those changes is a different, more open understanding of the relationship of philosophy and practice, go against the grain of most Oakeshott scholarship." I don't know about you, but he's sure got my head spinning, my heart pounding, and my mind wanting to read more, more.