Preface

A Word to the Student

Introduction

On Political Philosophy

The Relationship of Ethics to Political Philosophy

Ethical Relativism and Objectivism

Subjective Ethical Relativism (Subjectivism)

Conventional Ethical Relativism (Conventionalism)

Moderate Objectivism

Two Types of Ethical Theories

Conclusion

For Further Reflection

I. Justification of Government: Why Should I Obey the State?

Introduction: Political Authority

Why Not Anarchism?

Responses to Anarchism

A Thought Experiment: A Bottom-up Project of Justifying Government

Conclusion

For Further Reflection

II. Liberty, the Limits of the State, and State Paternalism

Mill's Theory of Liberty

Is Liberty an Intrinsic Good?

No Man is an Island

Negative and Positive Liberty

Paternalism

Should the State Limit Free Speech?

Liberty and the Tragedy of the Commons

Conclusion

For Further Reflection

III. Equality: Its Nature and Value

Introduction: The Meaning of Equality

Formal Equality

Substantive Equality

The Doctrine of Equal Human Worth and Metaphysical Equality

Legal Equality

Conclusion

For Further Reflection

IV. Equal Opportunity

Introduction

The Concept of 'Equal Opportunity'

Types of Equal Opportunity

Arbitrary Equal Opportunity

Meritocratic Equal Opportunity

Procedural Equal Opportunity

Result-oriented Equal Opportunity

Arguments for Equal Opportunity

Objections to Equal Opportunity

Nozick's Life is not a Race Objection

Schaar's Communitarian Objection

Fishkin's Trilemma

Conclusion

For Further Reflection

V. What is Justice?

Introduction

Justice as Desert

Desert and Merit

Locke and Nozick's Libertarian Concept of Justice

Rawl's Theory of Justice

Conclusion

For Further Reflection

VI. State Neutrality versus State Perfectionism: Should the State Make People Moral?

Introduction: Legal versus Moral Perfectionism

Arguments against Perfectionism and Perfectionist Replies

Conclusion

For Further Reflection

VII. Rights

The Nature and Value of Rights

A Critical Analysis

A Commentary of The United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights

Conclusion

For Further Reflection

VIII. Punishment

Introduction

Definitions

Theories of Punishment

Retributivism

Utilitarianism

Rehabilitationism

Conclusion

For Further Reflection

IX. Nationalism, Cosmopolitanism, and World Government

Introduction: An Overview of Global Anarchy

The Cosmopolitan Spirit

The Promise of Nationalism

An Assessment of the Debate between Nationalism and Cosmopolitanism

Interventionism: Should the World Community Intervene in the Affairs of National Disputes?

Immigration: Should There be Open Borders?

Conclusion

For Further Reflection

X. International Terrorism and the Moral Response

Introduction: The Day of Ignominy

Hama Rules: Background Rules of Terrorism

Clash of Cultures

A Definition of Terrorism

Causes of Terrorism

A War on Terrorism

Terrorism and Just War Theory

The Moral Response to Terrorism

National Conscription

Spreading the Message of a Universal Morality

The Cosmopolitan Moral Imperative: The Possibility of World Government

Conclusion

For Further Reflection

Bibliographies

Index