Political Philosophy: From Plato to Mao

This uniquely accessible introduction to political philosophy explores the history of ideas and ways of thinking about society. Beginning with Plato’s Utopia, Cohen goes on to discuss political philosophies from Niccolo Machiavelli’s Psychology of the State through to Hobbes’ Wicked World, John Locke, Adam Smith, Rousseau, Marxism, Italian Fascism, Maoism and beyond. Theory is set within the social context of a historical narrative, in what amounts to a history of civilisation, encompassing a broad range of philosophers from Plato and the Enlightenment humanists to Hayek and Fukuyama. Offering concise summaries of key ideas, this book is an ideal introduction to political philosophy over the centuries. It concludes with a final discussion of capitalism and the 'Third Way’, bringing the narrative fully up to date.