The new book from Larry Siedentop, acclaimed author of Democracy in Europe, Inventing the Individual is a highly original rethinking of how our moral beliefs were formed and their impact on western society today
'Magisterial, timeless, beautifully written ... Siedentop has achieved something quite extraordinary. He has explained us to ourselves' Spectator
This ambitious and stimulating book describes how a moral revolution in the first centuries AD - the discovery of human freedom and its universal potential - led to a social revolution in the west. The invention of a new, equal social role, the individual, gradually displaced the claims of family, tribe and caste as the basis of social organisation. Larry Siedentop asks us to rethink the evolution of the ideas on which modern societies and government are built, and argues that the core of what is now our system of beliefs emerged much earlier than we think. The roots of liberalism - belief in individual liberty, in the fundamental moral equality of individuals, that equality should be the basis of a legal system and that only a representative form of government is fitting for such a society - all these, Siedentop argues, were pioneered by Christian thinkers of the Middle Ages, who drew on the moral revolution carried out by the early church. It was the arguments of canon lawyers, theologians and philosophers from the eleventh to the fourteenth century, rather than the Renaissance, that laid the foundation for liberal democracy.
There are large parts of the world where other beliefs flourish - fundamentalist Islam, which denies the equality of women and is often ambiguous about individual rights and representative institutions; quasi-capitalist China, where a form of utilitarianism enshrines state interests even at the expense of justice and liberty. Such beliefs may foster populist forms of democracy. But they are not liberal. In the face of these challenges, Siedentop urges that understanding the origins of our own liberal ideas is more than ever an important part of knowing who we are.
LARRY SIEDENTOP was appointed to the first post in intellectual history ever established in Britain, at Sussex University in the 1970's. From there he moved to Oxford, becoming Faculty Lecturer in Political Thought and a Fellow of Keble College. His writings include a study of Tocqueville, an edition of Guizot's History of Civilization in Europe, and Democracy in Europe, which has been translated into a dozen languages. Siedentop was made CBE in 2004.
PRAISE FOR THE BOOK
'One of the most stimulating books of political theory to have appeared in many years ... a refreshingly unorthodox account of the roots of modern liberalism in medieval Christian thinking' John Gray, Literary Review
'A brave, brilliant and beautifully written defence of the western tradition' Paul Lay, History Today
'An engrossing book of ideas ... illuminating, beautifully written and rigorously argued' Kenan Malik, Independent
'A most impressive work of philosophical history' Robert Skidelsky
Le informazioni nella sezione "Riassunto" possono far riferimento a edizioni diverse di questo titolo.
Le informazioni nella sezione "Su questo libro" possono far riferimento a edizioni diverse di questo titolo.
Spese di spedizione:
EUR 5,24
Da: Regno Unito a: U.S.A.
Descrizione libro paperback. Condizione: New. Language: ENG. Codice articolo 9780141009544
Descrizione libro Paperback. Condizione: new. Paperback. Where do the ideas on which modern western states are built - equality and individual freedom - really come from? What does 'liberalism' mean? Why does it matter? Larry Siedentop's sweeping history offers a radical new perspective on the surprising origins of the beliefs that made us who we are.The new book from Larry Siedentop, acclaimed author of Democracy in Europe, Inventing the Individual is a highly original rethinking of how our moral beliefs were formed and their impact on western society today'Magisterial, timeless, beautifully written . Siedentop has achieved something quite extraordinary. He has explained us to ourselves' SpectatorThis ambitious and stimulating book describes how a moral revolution in the first centuries AD - the discovery of human freedom and its universal potential - led to a social revolution in the west. The invention of a new, equal social role, the individual, gradually displaced the claims of family, tribe and caste as the basis of social organisation. Larry Siedentop asks us to rethink the evolution of the ideas on which modern societies and government are built, and argues that the core of what is now our system of beliefs emerged much earlier than we think. The roots of liberalism - belief in individual liberty, in the fundamental moral equality of individuals, that equality should be the basis of a legal system and that only a representative form of government is fitting for such a society - all these, Siedentop argues, were pioneered by Christian thinkers of the Middle Ages, who drew on the moral revolution carried out by the early church. It was the arguments of canon lawyers, theologians and philosophers from the eleventh to the fourteenth century, rather than the Renaissance, that laid the foundation for liberal democracy.There are large parts of the world where other beliefs flourish - fundamentalist Islam, which denies the equality of women and is often ambiguous about individual rights and representative institutions; quasi-capitalist China, where a form of utilitarianism enshrines state interests even at the expense of justice and liberty. Such beliefs may foster populist forms of democracy. But they are not liberal. In the face of these challenges, Siedentop urges that understanding the origins of our own liberal ideas is more than ever an important part of knowing who we are.LARRY SIEDENTOP was appointed to the first post in intellectual history ever established in Britain, at Sussex University in the 1970's. From there he moved to Oxford, becoming Faculty Lecturer in Political Thought and a Fellow of Keble College. His writings include a study of Tocqueville, an edition of Guizot's History of Civilization in Europe, and Democracy in Europe, which has been translated into a dozen languages. Siedentop was made CBE in 2004.PRAISE FOR THE BOOK'One of the most stimulating books of political theory to have appeared in many years . a refreshingly unorthodox account of the roots of modern liberalism in medieval Christian thinking' John Gray, Literary Review'A brave, brilliant and beautifully written defence of the western tradition' Paul Lay, History Today'An engrossing book of ideas . illuminating, beautifully written and rigorously argued' Kenan Malik, Independent'A most impressive work of philosophical history' Robert Skidelsky%%%The new book from Larry Siedentop, acclaimed author of Democracy in Europe, Inventing the Individual is a highly original rethinking of how our moral beliefs were formed and their impact on western society today'Magisterial, timeless, beautifully written . Siedentop has achieved something quite extraordinary. He has explained us to ourselves' SpectatorThis ambitious and stimulating book describes how a moral revolution in the first centuries AD - the discovery of human freedom and its universal potential - led to a social revolution in th Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Codice articolo 9780141009544
Descrizione libro Condizione: New. pp. 448. Codice articolo 322531639
Descrizione libro Paperback. Condizione: New. BRAND NEW ** SUPER FAST SHIPPING FROM UK WAREHOUSE ** 30 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE. Codice articolo 9780141009544-GDR
Descrizione libro Paperback. Condizione: Brand New. 448 pages. In Stock. Codice articolo __0141009543
Descrizione libro Condizione: New. Asks us to rethink the evolution of the ideas on which modern societies and government are built, and argues that the core of what is now our system of beliefs emerged much earlier than we think. Num Pages: 448 pages. BIC Classification: HPQ; JPA. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 199 x 130 x 26. Weight in Grams: 328. . 2015. Paperback. . . . . Codice articolo V9780141009544
Descrizione libro Paperback. Condizione: new. New. Fast Shipping and good customer service. Codice articolo Holz_New_0141009543
Descrizione libro Condizione: New. In eng. Codice articolo ria9780141009544_new
Descrizione libro Paperback / softback. Condizione: New. New copy - Usually dispatched within 4 working days. Asks us to rethink the evolution of the ideas on which modern societies and government are built, and argues that the core of what is now our system of beliefs emerged much earlier than we think. Codice articolo B9780141009544
Descrizione libro Paperback. Condizione: new. New. Codice articolo Wizard0141009543