Synopses & Reviews
In this book Paul Franco provides an authoritative introduction to the life and thought of Michael Oakeshott, one of the most important philosophical voices of the twentieth century. After sketching a brief biography of Oakeshott, Franco then examines his most distinctive ideas, including his early idealist theory of knowledge, his influential critique of rationalism and central social planning, and his liberal theory of civil association. The author argues that Oakeshott makes important contributions both to conservatism and to liberal theory, and he compares Oakeshott to such other contemporary thinkers as Hayek, Strauss, Berlin, Rawls, and Rorty.
Though best known as a political philosopher, Oakeshott also contributed significantly to the philosophy of history, aesthetics, the philosophy of religion, and the philosophy of education. Franco highlights Oakeshott's impressive achievements in each of these areas and particularly commends the philosopher's writings on liberal education and his pluralistic understanding of human activity in terms of the appealing and oft-invoked image of "the conversation of mankind." This book is an essential introduction to the whole range of Oakeshott's thought, and it sets the philosopher's work in historical context while also demonstrating its relevance to twenty-first-century debates in political philosophy.
Also available by Paul Franco
Hegel's Philosophy of Freedom
ISBN 0-300-09322-5 $26.00sc
The Political Philosophy of Michael Oakeshott
ISBN 0-300-04686-3 $50.00
Also available by Michael Oakeshott
Morality and Politics in Modern Europe
ISBN 0-300-05644-3 $45.00
Review
“A guide to Oakeshott which is both sympathetic and scrupulously fair; it is also remarkable user friendly.”—Noel Malcolm, The Sunday Telegraph
Synopsis
In this book Paul Franco provides an authoritative introduction to the life and thought of Michael Oakeshott, one of the most important philosophical voices of the twentieth century. After sketching a brief biography of Oakeshott, Franco then examines his most distinctive ideas, including his early idealist theory of knowledge, his influential critique of rationalism and central social planning, and his liberal theory of civil association.
Though best known as a political philosopher, Oakeshott also made significant contributions to the philosophy of history, aesthetics, the philosophy of religion, and the philosophy of education. Franco highlights Oakeshotts impressive achievements in each of these areas. His book is an essential introduction to the whole range of Oakeshotts thought, and it sets the philosophers work in historical context while also demonstrating its relevance to contemporary debates in political philosophy.
About the Author
Paul Franco is professor of government at Bowdoin College.