The Practice of Skepticism
Montaigne and Zhuangzi on Freedom, Coexistence, and the Limits of Government
Seiten
2026
Oxford University Press Inc (Verlag)
978-0-19-760753-4 (ISBN)
Oxford University Press Inc (Verlag)
978-0-19-760753-4 (ISBN)
- Noch nicht erschienen (ca. Mai 2026)
- Versandkostenfrei
- Auch auf Rechnung
- Artikel merken
This book argues that a comparative investigation of the thought of the sixteenth century French philosopher Michel de Montaigne and the ancient Chinese Daoist thinker Zhuangzi can help to understand one class of argument for these concerns, namely those connected to forms of skepticism.
Although the ideas of freedom, peaceful coexistence, and a modest role for government are central to the liberal political tradition and the political practices of contemporary liberal democracies, their justification is disputed. This book argues that a comparative investigation of the thought of the sixteenth century French philosopher Michel de Montaigne and the ancient Chinese Daoist thinker Zhuangzi can help clarify one class of argument for these concerns, namely those connected to forms of skepticism.
Both early modern France and China during the Warring States period gave rise to great intellectual and political conflicts; these thinkers responded by examining the limits of human knowledge and questioning claims to comprehensive knowledge of the best way of living. They argue that once we understand these limits, we will uphold the freedom to think and act in a variety of ways.
Adopting this skeptical stance also undermines many of the grand pretensions to knowledge that motivate violent political projects. It leads, in this way, to a more modest or constrained view of the proper scope of good government. These claims are not of mere historical significance; the conditions of deep disagreement out of which their works emerged continue to persist today, as do the attempts to violently impose particular ways of living backed by dubious claims to knowledge. For this reason, the work of Montaigne and Zhuangzi helps us to better understand our contemporary political challenges and the ways in which we might move forward.
Although the ideas of freedom, peaceful coexistence, and a modest role for government are central to the liberal political tradition and the political practices of contemporary liberal democracies, their justification is disputed. This book argues that a comparative investigation of the thought of the sixteenth century French philosopher Michel de Montaigne and the ancient Chinese Daoist thinker Zhuangzi can help clarify one class of argument for these concerns, namely those connected to forms of skepticism.
Both early modern France and China during the Warring States period gave rise to great intellectual and political conflicts; these thinkers responded by examining the limits of human knowledge and questioning claims to comprehensive knowledge of the best way of living. They argue that once we understand these limits, we will uphold the freedom to think and act in a variety of ways.
Adopting this skeptical stance also undermines many of the grand pretensions to knowledge that motivate violent political projects. It leads, in this way, to a more modest or constrained view of the proper scope of good government. These claims are not of mere historical significance; the conditions of deep disagreement out of which their works emerged continue to persist today, as do the attempts to violently impose particular ways of living backed by dubious claims to knowledge. For this reason, the work of Montaigne and Zhuangzi helps us to better understand our contemporary political challenges and the ways in which we might move forward.
Lincoln Rathnam is an Assistant Professor of Political Science and Associate Chair of the Division of Social Sciences at Duke Kunshan University. He has previously been a postdoctoral fellow in the Program in Democracy and Citizenship at Emory University and a visiting instructor at Davidson College. He received his B.A. (Philosophy) from Davidson College and his M.A. (East Asian Studies) and Ph.D. (Political Science) from the University of Toronto.
to come
| Erscheint lt. Verlag | 13.5.2026 |
|---|---|
| Reihe/Serie | Studies in Comparative Political Theory |
| Verlagsort | New York |
| Sprache | englisch |
| Maße | 156 x 235 mm |
| Gewicht | 3 g |
| Themenwelt | Geisteswissenschaften ► Philosophie |
| Sozialwissenschaften ► Politik / Verwaltung ► Europäische / Internationale Politik | |
| Sozialwissenschaften ► Politik / Verwaltung ► Politische Theorie | |
| ISBN-10 | 0-19-760753-5 / 0197607535 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0-19-760753-4 / 9780197607534 |
| Zustand | Neuware |
| Informationen gemäß Produktsicherheitsverordnung (GPSR) | |
| Haben Sie eine Frage zum Produkt? |
Mehr entdecken
aus dem Bereich
aus dem Bereich
Amerikas Strategie der Vorherrschaft und der Kampf um Eurasien
Buch | Softcover (2024)
NOMEN Verlag
CHF 27,95
kurze Geschichte einer langen Beziehung
Buch | Hardcover (2025)
Suhrkamp (Verlag)
CHF 36,40
erfolgreiche Interessenvertretung durch Prozesskompetenz im komplexen …
Buch | Hardcover (2023)
Wiley-VCH (Verlag)
CHF 58,75
