Isaiah Berlin
Liberty and Pluralism
Key Contemporary Thinkers
1. Auflage September 2004
256 Seiten, Hardcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
Isaiah Berlin was one of the leading political thinkers of the
twentieth century, and his work continues to attract admiration and
debate. In Isaiah Berlin: Liberty, Pluralism and Liberalism,
George Crowder provides both an accessible introduction to Berlin's
ideas and an original contribution to political theory.
Berlin's range of interests and learning was vast but united by
a single overarching project: the uncovering of the conceptual
roots of twentieth-century totalitarianism. He traces these through
three levels of analysis: the distortion of the concept of freedom
by thinkers such as Rousseau, Fichte, Hegel and Marx; the scientism
of the Enlightenment and irrationalism of the Counter-Enlightenment
and romanticism; and moral monism, the idea that all ethical
questions can be answered by reference to a single moral law.
Against monism, Berlin asserts the claims of value pluralism, which
he aligns with a politics of liberal moderation.
In this new assessment, Crowder argues that Berlin's critique of
the modern enemies of liberty is exciting and powerful, but also
that the coherence of his thought is threatened by a tension
between its liberal and pluralist elements. Crowder goes on to
suggest how that tension can be resolved by appeal to arguments
that go beyond the case actually presented by Berlin but which
remain within the spirit of his general outlook.
Abbreviations.
1 Hedgehog and Fox.
2 Three Strands.
3 The Betrayal of Freedom.
4 Two Concepts of Liberty.
5 The Enlightenment and its Critics.
6 Pluralism and Liberalism.
7 After Berlin.
8 Berlin's Achievement.
Notes.
Bibliography.
Index
liberal political philosophy] than Berlin himself ever set out."
History of Political Thought
"Berlin is well served in this excellent book by his
commentator, George Crowder. Crowder does a marvelous job of
identifying the principle themes in Berlin's work, explaining
Berlin's motivations, correcting prevalent misunderstandings, and
responding on his subject's behalf to important criticisms. Even
where Crowder identifies indictable silences on Berlin's part --
his saying little or nothing, for instance, about social justice
and cultural pluralism -- he suggests what Berlin could, and
should, have said about matters...In respect of Berlin's writings,
we can now be much clearer about what is at stake, where we are in
need of further good arguments, and what lines of thinking we might
profitably pursue. Berlins' vision is clearer to us both in its
strengths and in its weaknesses." Perspectives on
Politics, American Political Science Review -- December,
2005
(reviewed by David Archard, Lancaster University)
"Crowder deftly expounds the links between liberty and pluralism
in Berlin?s work, which he subjects to a sympathetic yet
penetrating critique. In so doing, he offers an important
interpretation of Berlin, and makes a substantive contribution of
his own to our understanding of this topic." Professor Richard
Bellamy, Academic Director ECPR, Department of Government,
University of Essex
"This is an impressive book, which dominates the existing
critical studies of Berlin." Dr. David Miller, Nuffield College,
University of Oxford
"Isaiah Berlin: Liberty and Pluralism is the most
balanced, comprehensive, and insightful examination of Berlin?s
thought yet written. Everyone interested in the history and future
of liberal thought can profit from Crowder?s painstaking study."
William A. Galoston, Saul I. Stern, Professor of Civic
Engagement and Director, Institute for Philosophy and Public
Policy, University of Maryland
