Evil in Contemporary Political Theory - by Bruce Haddock & Peri Roberts & Peter David Edward Sutch (Paperback)

About the Book

Explores the actual and possible roles of evil in contemporary political theory

Book Synopsis

What role should the idea of evil have in contemporary moral and social thought? The concept of 'evil' has long been a key idea in moral discourse. Intuitively, we know what evil means. Now, the contributors to this volume make a start on the important task of systematically exploring evil in the context of political theory.

From the Back Cover

AUTHOR APPROVED What role should the idea of evil have in contemporary moral and social thought? The concept of evil has a long history as a key idea in political and moral discourse. Intuitively we know what it means. Yet once we begin to think about its meaning we quickly uncover competing definitions. In recent years political theorists have generally set the concept aside as outdated or inappropriate. However, the idea that some things are especially wrong, beyond toleration, still has significant currency and 'evil' may capture that significance. Given this possibility, evil merits a closer look. While there is a small philosophical literature on evil, political theory has not revisited the idea systematically. The authors and editors of this volume make a start on this important task. Key Features *Presents a broad-ranging exploration of the idea of evil in contemporary theory *Offers a philosophical analysis of the role of evil in ethics *Analyses the idea of evil in classic arguments *Explores the idea of evil in politics The editors, Bruce Haddock, Peri Roberts and Peter Sutch, are part of the political theory research group at Cardiff University. Previous collaborations include /Multiculturalism, Identity and Rights/ (2003) and /Principles and Political Order: The Challenge of Diversity (2006). ISBN 978 0 7486 4196 3 Jacket image: Pol Pot's Genocide - Killing Fields, Cambodia (c) Phillip Craswell/iStockphoto

Review Quotes

A deeply suggestive collection of essays which helpfully illuminates an important topic hitherto surprisingly unremarked in contemporary political thought.--Derek Edyvane, University of Leeds "Political Studies Review"

About the Author

Bruce Haddock is Professor of European Social and Political Thought at the Cardiff University Peri Roberts is Senior Lecturer in Political Theory at the Cardiff University Peter Sutch is Reader at the Cardiff University Peri Roberts is Senior Lecturer in Political Theory at the Cardiff University Peter Sutch is Reader at the Cardiff University