Great Books, Bad Arguments

W. G. Runciman is a fellow of Trinity College, University of Cambridge. His books include "The Social Animal" and "The Theory of Cultural and Social Selection".

• Preface vii Chapter 1. Introduction 1 Chapter 2. Republic 17 Chapter 3. Leviathan 54 Chapter 4. The Communist Manifesto 87 Chapter 5. Conclusion 111

"Runciman wastes little time in paying homage to the enduring influence of Plato's Republic, Hobbes's Leviathan and Marx's The Communist Manifesto... With verve and a forensic analytical framework, Runciman attempts to demolish their fundamental tenets and misguided aims. One by one he explores the central arguments of those responsible for building the edifice of Western political thought and pinpoints their perceived flaws. Runciman's underlying aim is to highlight that, stripped of their halos, these texts rely on a farrago of shoddy arguments. His intention is to dethrone Plato, Hobbes and Marx from their lofty status and fill the space vacated with more plausible assumptions about what motivates human action and, by analogy, the corresponding societies that are capable of flourishing."--Frank Carrigan, Australian "This book ... is ... an important contribution. It is also well written and well-produced, and I commend it to those with any interest in sociology, political theory, or political philosophy."--John Preston, European Legacy