John Rawls, etc.

[mrgorth]

Hi all. I heard John Rawls mentioned on a episode of the West Wing once before in kind of a "founding philosopher" manner. I've looked up his work and plan on reading some but I would like to ask what else, of this ilk, we would consider our "holy books" so to speak. I don't mean back to Voltaire or Locke but more recent but not as recent as Chomsky. I've recently been reading "The Good Life" by Scott and Helen Nearing and parts are good but I don't think it's quite what I thought it'd be. I may have to read Scott Nearing's academic work. Thanks in advance and sorry if I didn't explain myself well.

[tekisui]

1. I like Rawls, also Schattschneider is good for understanding

how coalitions are formed and dissolved. All about framing.

I like Hannah Arendt for creating political space and building political power.

Foucault's Panopticon is regularly applicable.

Benedict Anderson for understanding Nationalism.

Those are ones that stick with me.

[Davis_X_Machina]

2. For Rawls, read "Political Liberalism"....

...it's easier sledding than A Theory of Justice, and is more recent -- he had a chance to respond to the reception of ATOJ in writing the later book. Of older books, John Dewey's The Public and its Problems, and older still, John Stuart Mill's On Liberty is one of the holy books -- libertarians have their own take on it, but it's an idiosyncratic one.

Chomsky doesn't do theory -- he does critique.

[malaise]

3. I like Amartya Sen

I'm rereading his The Idea of Justice

Here's a nice review of the book.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/nov/07/amartya-sen-justice-book-review

Sen has also written extensively on development.

If you're interested in Rawls, you must read Sen.

[mrgorth]

4. Thank

you all very much. That should keep me busy for a while.

[Captain Hilts]

5. I'll admit to not having read Rawls. I've read a bunch, but not Rawls. nt

[kirby]

6. I prefer Alan Greene n/t