Political Theory and the Human Predicament: An Introduction to Major Political Thinkers

Political Theory and the Human Predicament: An Introduction to Major Political Thinkers presents the work of important political theorists from Plato to Marx. The primary source material introduces students to the political and ethical questions theorists have, with varying degrees of success, tried to answer and shows how these questions have evolved over time. 

The political thinkers are covered chronologically and the selected readings from their works are organized to allow readers to easily locate key passages for study and discussion. Each chapter opens with an informative introductory essay that acquaints readers with the theorist’s life and times, and his or her particular approach to the study of politics and the human condition. Together the introductory essays and selected readings provide an overview of the assumptions and important arguments still used by those seeking to understand human nature, society and political life. Political Theory and the Human Predicament aims to encourage a careful and critical reading of the most significant and often controversial ideas—regarding justice, legitimate authority, law, rights, freedom, and the good life—examined in the works of classical and modern political theory. 

This revised edition features questions at the end of each chapter that are designed to help readers gauge their understanding of the original material. Several of these questions are analytical, for which there are no clear-cut answers, and have been added to encourage students to consider their own assumptions and political values when assessing the merits of a particular argument. These can be used to enhance classroom discussion or to facilitate essay and homework assignments. 

Political Theory and the Human Predicament is written for introductory political theory courses, political ethics courses, and more specialized courses in ancient and modern political thought.

Ramona Grey earned her Ph.D. at the University of California, Riverside. Currently Dr. Grey is a professor in the Political Science Department at the University of Montana, where she teaches courses in ancient, medieval, and modern political theory, utopianism, and contemporary political thought. She is a recipient of the university’s Distinguished Teaching Award. Her professional writing addresses politics and art in utopia, natural law theory, and the American writer and naturalist Joseph Wood Krutch. Her articles have appeared in American Studies and the Antioch Review.