The General Will: Rousseau, Marx, Communism

Levine, Andrew

ISBN 10: 0521443229 / ISBN 13: 9780521443227

Published by Cambridge University Press, New York, 1993

About this Item

HARDCOVER. Cambridge University Press. New York. 1993. First edition. Octavo. xiii + 240 pages. Original black cloth binding with gilt lettering to spine. Red, grey and black dustjacket with white and red lettering. Book in fijne condition. Dust jacket near fine. See photograph. Book 7945 location 5-1.

Seller Inventory # 7945

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The General Will: Rousseau, Marx, Communism
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, New York
• Publication Date: 1993
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521443229
• ISBN 13: 9780521443227
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: First Edition.
• Condition: Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine
• Seller catalogs:
  • METAPHYSICS
  • LITERATURE
  • HISTORY

About this title

Synopsis

This bold and unabashedly utopian book advances the thesis that Marx's notion of communism is a defensible, normative ideal. However, unlike many others who have written in this area, Levine applies the tools and techniques of analytic philosophy to formulate and defend his radical, political program. The argument proceeds by filtering the ideals and institutions of Marxism through Rousseau's notion of the "general will." Once Rousseau's ideas are properly understood it is possible to construct a community of equals who share some vision of a common good that can be achieved and maintained through cooperation or coordination that is at once both voluntary and authoritative. The book engages with liberal theory in order to establish its differences from Rousseauean-Marxian political theory. This provocative book will be of particular interest to political philosophers and political scientists concerned with Marxism, socialist theory, and democratic theory.

Book Description

This bold and unabashedly utopian book advances the thesis that Marx's notion of communism is a defensible, normative ideal.