Contemporary Thought and Politics, Volume 2Gellner's political philosophy in these volumes combines the down-to-earth realism of political sociology with a rational treatment of the normative issues of traditional political thought. In these essays Gellner strives to understand the religions of nationalism, communism and democracy, returning again and again to the basic values of the liberal: social tolerance, rational criticism, human decency and justice. |
Contents
Prepare to meet thy doom | 1 |
Myth ideology and revolution | 8 |
Democracy and industrialization | 20 |
Contemporary thought and politics | 43 |
Behind the barricades at LSE | 69 |
The panther and the dove | 73 |
How to live in anarchy | 87 |
The concept of a story | 95 |
or knowledge and communism | 133 |
Scale and nation | 141 |
The pluralist antilevellers of Prague | 158 |
The dangers of tolerance | 175 |
On democracy in France | 182 |
Sources | 193 |
195 | |
198 | |
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Common terms and phrases
alternatives argument Aron ascribes status basic belief Brave New World chapter claim clan complex concerning consensus conservatism contemporary cosmogonies course criticism crucial cultural Czechoslovakia definition democratic differentiation division of labour doctrine economic educational effect egalitarian epistemology essay essentially contested concept exist fact favour formal Gallie Gallie's Gellner hence human ideal ideas ideology implications important industrial society institutions intellectual interesting internal invoked J. S. Mill kind language least less liberal liberty linguistic philosophy logical positivism Machonin Marxism means ment merely moral nationalism nature Nineteen Eighty-Four norm perhaps pluralism pluralistic political theory positivists possible Prague Spring premise present presupposes principle problem question Raymond Aron reason rebels revolutionary role rules seems sense simple situation social structure socialist sociological specific story stratification things thought tion tolerance traditional transitional societies valid W. B. Gallie Weldon Weltanschauung whilst