Comparative political philosophy

"For a long time, the study of political philosophy has assumed the centrality of western political philosophy. The underlying presumption is that the western tradition reflects not just modernity but that it is the product of universal reason itself. This claim of universality is being challenged by other cultures while many from within the western tradition have begun to question the assumptions underlying the concept of modernity." "This fascinating volume explores four major traditions of political philosophy - western, Indian, Chinese and Islamic - in order to identify 'equivalences' and thus engender respect for other traditions while deepening an understanding of one's own." "The contributors maintain that particular cultural and linguistic traditions condition the emergence of specific political philosophies. As such, each tradition produces texts which consciously develop a philosophic understanding of the theory and practice of governance. The strategy followed herein is to select significant representatives from each tradition. Thus, from the pre-modern west, Plato and Aristotle, Augustine and Aquinas; from pre-modern China, Confucius; from India, Kautilya; and from Islam, Farabi. In contrast are those who endeavoured to up-date or reshape their respective traditions of political philosophy: Hegel, Marx, Gandhi, Mao and Khomeini.". "Taken as a whole, this volume moves beyond a Eurocentric bias in order to facilitate an exchange of perspectives originating in major streams of political philosophy as a response to the perilous transition between tradition and modernity, and to the commonality of human distress which characterises such transitions. It will be of considerable interest to any student of political philosophy, political theory and intellectual history."--BOOK JACKET.