To do political theory is to tell a story about human beings and their communities. In this witty and elegant book, Michael Brint provides a brilliant reading of some of the greatest stories told in the history of Western political theory. The unifying theme is the issue of differences and the conflicts they generate. Brint's targets are those thin
Michael Brint is assistant professor of government and foreign affairs at the University of Virginia.
Introduction -- The Antitragic Theater of Political Thought -- Happy Endings and Noble Lies in Plato's Republic -- Rousseau and the Echoes of Narcisse -- The Politics of Tragedy -- A Dialogue on Liberty and Freedom -- Hegelian Harmony and the Laughter of Angels -- A Carnival of Critics: Irony and the Postmodern Temper -- Arendt, Rorty, and Mr. Jefferson's American Romance -- Conclusion -- Putting the "E" Back into Différance
