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The Concept of the Political – Expanded Edition

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In his seminal work, legal theorist and political philosopher Carl Schmitt challenges the foundations of liberalism by arguing that its focus on individual rights cannot adequately justify self-sacrifice for the state. This expanded edition features George Schwab's introduction, tracing Schmitt's intellectual development amid the turmoil of early 20th-century Germany leading to the Nazi regime. It also includes a 1929 lecture on the depoliticisation of society, alongside insightful analysis by Leo Strauss and a contemporary foreword by Tracy B. Strong, making it an essential read for students of political theory and philosophy.
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This book is ideal for readers interested in political philosophy, legal theory, and historical perspectives on liberalism and authoritarianism.

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Argues that liberalism's basis in individual rights cannot provide a reasonable justification for sacrificing one-self for the state. This edition highlights the author's intellectual journey through the turbulent period of German history leading to the Hitlerian one-party state.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In this, his most influential work, legal theorist and political philosopher Carl Schmitt argues that liberalism’s basis in individual rights cannot provide a reasonable justification for sacrificing oneself for the state—a critique as cogent today as when it first appeared.

George Schwab’s introduction to his translation of the 1932 German edition highlights Schmitt’s intellectual journey through the turbulent period of German history leading to the Hitlerian one-party state.

In addition to analysis by Leo Strauss and a foreword by Tracy B. Strong placing Schmitt’s work into contemporary context, this expanded edition also includes a translation of Schmitt’s 1929 lecture “The Age of Neutralizations and Depoliticizations,” which the author himself added to the 1932 edition of the book.

An essential update on a modern classic, The Concept of the Political, Expanded Edition belongs on the bookshelf of anyone interested in political theory or philosophy.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Mark Lilla of the New York Review of Books calls it "the best introduction to Schmitt's thought," highlighting the book's clarity and significance in understanding political theory.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780226738925

Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 15 May 2007

Country: United States

Imprint: University of Chicago Press

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 10.0mm

Width: 139.0mm

Height: 217.0mm

Weight: 220g

Pages: 162

About the Author

Carl Schmitt (1888 - 1985) was a legal and political theorist and constitutional lawyer. He was the author of many books, including Political Theology, which the University of Chicago Press recently reprinted.

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  • Political Theology – Four Chapters on the Concept of Sovereignty
    Written in the intense political and intellectual tumult of the early years of the Weimar Republic, Political Theology develops the distinctive theory of sovereignty that made Carl Schmitt one of the most significant and controversial political theorists of the twentieth century. Focusing on the relationships among political leadership, the norms of the legal order, and the state of political emergency,...
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  • The Leviathan in the State Theory of Thomas Hobbes
    One of the most significant political philosophers of the twentieth century, Carl Schmitt is a deeply controversial figure who has been labelled both Nazi sympathiser and modern-day Thomas Hobbes. First published in 1938, The Leviathan in the State Theory of Thomas Hobbes used the Enlightenment philosopher’s enduring symbol of the protective Leviathan to address the nature of modern statehood. A...
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    Leo Strauss is known primarily for reviving classical political philosophy through careful analyses of works by ancient thinkers. As with his published writings, Strauss’s seminars devoted to specific philosophers were notoriously dense, accessible only to graduate students and scholars with a good command of the subject. In 1965, however, Strauss offered an introductory course on political philosophy at the University...
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Also by Tracy B. Strong

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