Political Thinkers: From Socrates to the Present

Political Thinkers is the most comprehensive introduction to Western political thought written by a team of internationally renowned scholars. The third edition provides students with a clear and engaging introduction to the canon of great theorists, from Socrates and the Sophists to contemporary thinkers such as Rawls and Arendt.  Each chapter begins with a helpful chapter guide, a biographical sketch of the thinker, a list of their key texts, and their key ideas. Part introductions and a concluding chapter enable readers to understand the social and political contexts that inspired political thinkers to write.  The third edition features two brand new chapters on Hannah Arendt, one of the most influential philosophers of the twentieth century, and Hugo Grotius, whose work on just war continues to inform international law today. Review

Praise for the previous edition: 'The essays guide, provoke, and promote further reflection, making Politival Thinkers the best essay collection of its kind and an excellent resource for students.' \ Russel Bentley, University of Southampton \ 'An impressive achievement and an excellent introduction to the field. The wider coverage with inputs from experts of international standing makes it a very valuable resource for students.' \ Christopher Finlay, University of Brighton \ 'Political Thinkers is a must for every student of political thought, offering an introduction to the history of political ideas alongside new food for thought for advanced scholars. An awesome achievement!' \* Erkki Berndtson, formerly of University of Helsinki