Civil Society The Conservative Meaning of Liberal Politics [Paperback]

In Civil Society, Lawrence Cahoone stages a critical engagement between the social-political viewpoints of liberalism, communitarianism, and conservatism in order to effect a balanced relation that will bypass or overcome the inadequacies of each position.Acknowledgments.

Introduction.

1. Neutrality and Liberty.

2. Neutrality and Equality.

3. Beyond Neutralism.

4. A (Post)Modern Conservatism.

5. Another Liberty.

6. Civil Society.

7. Civility, Neighborhood, and Culture.

8. Politics and Truth.

Index.

This is a remarkable example of responsible, intelligent, and, dare I say, witty scholarship. Those on both the right and left will be hard pressed to contest Lawrence Cahoone's thesis without themselves borrowing from his painstakingly fair review of the current state of liberal theory. Cahoone argues that the foundations of a just community long sought by political theorists are, in fact, present in actual communities. Even those who disagree with his thesis will have to acknowledge that a book like this, by virtue of its breadth and its fairness, will contribute to shaming the thoughtless and inspiring the considerate in both the academic and the public arenas. Thomas Thorp, St. Xavier University <!--end-->

This is a very important and timely study on sociopolitical philosophy. Cahoone rises to the challenge of reformulating a notion of polity that promises to help heal the wounds caused by decades of distrust and misunderstanding between political factions. What is most unique about this study is the way in which it redefines the standpoints of liberalism and conservatism without compromising the integrity of either. Cahoone adroitly weaves together philosophy, political theory, and contemporary and historicls®