{"title":"Harvey Claflin Mansfield","description":"\u003cp\u003eHarvey Claflin Mansfield is a distinguished figure in the realm of political philosophy, known for his profound insights that bridge the complexities of classical thought and contemporary issues. With a career spanning decades, Mansfield's works invite readers to engage deeply with the philosophical underpinnings of modern political and social systems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOne of his notable works, \u003cem\u003eThe Rise and Fall of Rational Control\u003c\/em\u003e, reveals his inclination to challenge prevailing notions and encourage critical thought. Mansfield's books often traverse the intricate landscapes of philosophy and psychology, making them an enriching addition for those who take interest in these fields.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs a reader, you'll find Harvey Claflin Mansfield’s writings both enlightening and intellectually stimulating, providing a comprehensive understanding of political rationalism, the human psyche, and their interaction with governance and society. His articulate prose and engaging style make his books not only educational but also accessible to a wide audience.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-rise-and-fall-of-rational-control-by-harvey-claflin-mansfield-9780674298859","title":"The Rise and Fall of Rational Control","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA renowned scholar traces the evolution of modern political philosophy.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Rise and Fall of Rational Control\u003c\/em\u003e is a bold interpretation of centuries of intellectual revolutions. Based on Harvey C. Mansfield's legendary Harvard course, taught for decades to rapt classrooms, this volume is both a grand work of ideas and an elucidating reflection on liberalism, its eclipse, and the possibility of renewal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMansfield locates the birth of modern political philosophy in the work of Niccolò Machiavelli, the first to assert that the objective of politics is not to achieve wishful ideals of justice or virtue—as the ancients had it—but to manipulate the brute facts of the world in service of interests. Here rational control, free from the order of gods or God, is the key to achieving the modern order, which can liberate humans from slavery and conflict.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHobbes and Locke later develop Machiavelli's modern idea, laying foundations for liberalism. Then comes the first crisis in the form of Rousseau, who introduces historical change into the very idea of reason, which itself is said to evolve. After Rousseau, history takes centre stage, as witnessed in Kant, Marx, and Hegel. The second crisis of modernity arrives with Nietzsche, who casts doubt on reason itself. Ever since, political thought has been stranded in the desert of postmodernism, where Machiavelli's necessities are replaced by faded subjectivity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTracing the rise and fall of rational control, Mansfield asks where we go from here. Can we progress beyond our unease with what is modern, or should we aim to return somehow to what came before?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47307275239660,"sku":"9780674298859","price":77.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/1a9efb68a2fab0a1fed55343c282e78b.jpg?v=1771099398"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/harvey-claflin-mansfield.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}