After Utopia - by Judith N Shklar (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A political philosophy classic from one of the foremost political thinkers of the twentieth century

After Utopia was Judith Shklar's first book, a harbinger of her renowned career in political philosophy. Throughout the many changes in political thought during the last half century, this important work has withstood the test of time. In After Utopia, Shklar explores the decline of political philosophy, from Enlightenment optimism to modern cultural despair, and she offers a critical, creative analysis of this downward trend. She looks at Romantic and Christian social thought, and she shows that while the present political fatalism may be unavoidable, the prophets of despair have failed to explain the world they so dislike, leaving the possibility of a new and vigorous political philosophy. With a foreword by Samuel Moyn, examining After Utopia's continued relevance, this current edition introduces a remarkable synthesis of ideas to a new generation of readers.

Review Quotes

"[T]his book is a prerequisite for any researcher of political science/philosophy/theory and for any scholar of utopianism. . . . [T]he quality and significance of this book cannot be overestimated."---Marianna Papastephanou, European Legacy

About the Author

Judith N. Shklar (1928-1992) was the John Cowles Professor of Government at Harvard University. Her many books include On Political Obligation and Freedom and Independence. Samuel Moyn is the Henry R. Luce Professor of Jurisprudence at Yale Law School and professor of history at Yale University.