Description
In this lucid, powerfully reasoned, deeply original major new contribution to contemporary political thought, Paul Kahn X-rays the liberal faith, summoning it to a new honesty regarding its own purposes, unacknowledged motivations, blind spots and limitations, and challenging it to a find a new, if perhaps more modest, place in the world. -- Jonathan Schell, author of "The Unconquerable World" and "The Fate of the Earth" This important book represents the culmination of a career by one of the most original legal theorists working today. It is a work of both rigor and imagination. Building on but also transcending his earlier work, Paul Kahn presents a breathtakingly vast panorama of the conundrum of American liberalism in its theoretical, political, and daily practiced genres. Along the way, he tackles a wide variety of materials, from Supreme Court cases to Greek tragedies and leading political theory texts. -- Annelise Riles, Cornell University, author of "The Network Inside Out" A striking book. Putting Liberalism in Its Place is a thoughtful, provocative work that demands, and will repay, serious engagement. -- Patchen Markell, University of Chicago, author of "Bound by Recognition"
About the Author
Paul W. Kahn is the Robert W. Winner Professor of Law and Humanities at Yale Law School, where he is also Director of the Orville H. Schell, Jr. Center for International Human Rights. He is the author of "The Cultural Study of Law", "The Reign of Law; Legitimacy and History", "Law and Love", and "Out of Eden".
Reviews
"[This] is a beautifully written meditation on the sources of political meaning that cannot be justified by rational argumentation. It challenges the reader to acknowledge that politics is a fundamentally amoral enterprise that resembles romantic love more than rational debate."--Margaret Kohn, Political Theory "Paul W. Kahn's outstanding book alluringly explains the perplexity of liberalism in its post-September 11 situation."--Samuel Moyn, Ethics and International Affairs "Putting Liberalism in Its Place is a real success. It is learned, clear, forceful, and loaded with quotable lines. Most importantly, it takes a much needed shot across the bow of academic liberal theory."--Dan Silver, Foundations of Political Theory "This intriguing book is filled with challenging ideas and supplies some missing ingredients of the intellectual groundwork of liberalism."--James Magee, Law and Politics Book Review "Paul W. Kahn ... argue[s] that liberal theory lacks the conceptual resources to understand political life... Kahn sees liberalism as a philosophy for a postmodern condition, which may be emerging in Europe, where the state may be losing its grip on the moral imagination and 'politics [is] stripped of the political.' The book offers a provocative argument and is well written."--Choice "As a critique of liberal assumptions about human nature and political theory and as a thoughtful essay on political theology and evil, Kahn's analyses initiate discussions that should be continued."--Shalom Carmy, Hebraic Political Studies
Book Information
ISBN 9780691136981
Author Paul W. Kahn
Format Paperback
Page Count 336
Imprint Princeton University Press
Publisher Princeton University Press
Weight(grams) 510g