The Voice of Conscience: A Political Genealogy of Western Ethical Experience Contributor(s): Ojakangas, Mika (Author) |
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ISBN: 1623566789 ISBN-13: 9781623566784 Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic OUR PRICE: $188.10 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: July 2013 |
Additional Information |
BISAC Categories: - Political Science | History & Theory - General |
Dewey: 172 |
Series: Political Theory and Contemporary Philosophy |
Physical Information: 0.9" H x 5.9" W x 9.1" (1.20 lbs) 272 pages |
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
Publisher Description: In Western thought, it has been persistently assumed that in moral and political matters, people should rely on the inner voice of conscience rather than on external authorities, laws, and regulations. This volume investigates this concept, examining the development of the Western politics of conscience, from Socrates to the present, and the formation of the Western ethico-political subject. The work opens with a discussion of the ambiguous role of conscience in politics, contesting the claim that it is the best defense against totalitarianism. It then look back at canonical authors, from the Church Fathers and Luther to Rousseau and Derrida, to show how the experience of conscience constitutes the foundation of Western ethics and politics. This unique work not only synthesizes philosophical and political insights, but also pays attention to political theology to provide a compelling and innovative argument that the experience of conscience has always been at the core of the political Western tradition. An engaging and accessible text, it will appeal to political theorists and philosophers as well as theologians and those interested in the critique of the Western civilization. |