Brian R. Nelson: Western Political Thought: From Socrates To The Age Of Ideology

Western political thought is a vast and complex field of study that spans thousands of years and covers many different thinkers, ideas, and movements. It is not easy to summarize or evaluate the contributions of such a diverse and rich tradition in a single book. However, Brian R. Nelson, a professor of political science at the University of Toronto, has attempted to do so in his book Western Political Thought: From Socrates To The Age Of Ideology, which was first published in 1981 and revised in 2015.

In this book, Nelson provides an overview of the main terms, concepts, and dilemmas of Western political thought by analyzing a limited number of major thinkers from the pre-Socratics to the contemporary era. He organizes the book into four parts: classical and medieval political theory, modern political theory, contemporary political theory, and a glossary of key terms. He also includes a bibliography and an index for further reference.

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Nelson's main theme is the changing relationship between ethics and politics in Western political philosophy. He argues that the classical and medieval thinkers tried to harmonize ethics and politics by deriving political principles from a transcendent source of moral authority, such as nature, reason, or God. However, the modern thinkers challenged this harmony by introducing new sources of political legitimacy, such as individual rights, consent, or utility. This led to a separation of ethics and politics, which created new problems and tensions in the political realm. The contemporary thinkers tried to address these problems by either restoring the harmony of ethics and politics through various forms of idealism or realism, or by accepting the separation and exploring its implications for democracy, justice, or freedom.

Nelson's book is written in a clear and accessible style that makes it suitable for students and general readers who are interested in learning about Western political thought. He explains the basic ideas and arguments of each thinker in historical context and draws out their implications for contemporary issues. He also compares and contrasts different thinkers and schools of thought, highlighting their similarities and differences. He does not shy away from criticizing or evaluating the thinkers he discusses, but he does so in a fair and balanced way that respects their originality and significance.

Nelson's book is not without its limitations, however. As he himself admits in the preface, his selection of thinkers is somewhat arbitrary and subjective, and he does not claim to cover all the important aspects or perspectives of Western political thought. He also acknowledges that his interpretation of some thinkers may be controversial or debatable among scholars and experts. Moreover, his book does not provide much detail or depth on some topics or issues that may be relevant or interesting to some readers, such as feminism, multiculturalism, environmentalism, or postmodernism.

Despite these limitations, Nelson's book is still a valuable and informative introduction to Western political thought that offers a comprehensive and coherent overview of its main themes and developments. It is also a stimulating and engaging book that invites readers to think critically and creatively about the questions and challenges that Western political thought poses for our own time.

If you want to learn more about Brian R. Nelson's book or buy it online, you can visit [Amazon] or [Google Books]. You can also find more information about the author and his other works on his [personal website](https://www.brianrnelson.com/).

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