Public Goods, Private Goods (Princeton Monographs in Philosophy)
by Raymond Geuss
Princeton Monographs in Philosophy
On This Page
Description
Much political thinking today, particularly that influenced by liberalism, assumes a clear distinction between the public and the private, and holds that the correct understanding of this should weigh heavily in our attitude to human goods. It is, for instance, widely held that the state may address human action in the ''public'' realm but not in the ''private.'' In Public Goods, Private Goods Raymond Geuss exposes the profound flaws of such thinking and calls for a more nuanced approach. show more Drawing on a series of colorful examples from the ancient world, he illustrates some of the many ways in which actions can in fact be understood as public or private. The first chapter discusses Diogenes the Cynic, who flouted conventions about what should be public and what should be private by, among other things, masturbating in the Athenian marketplace. Next comes an analysis of Julius Caesar's decision to defy the Senate by crossing the Rubicon with his army; in doing so, Caesar asserted his dignity as a private person while acting in a public capacity. The third chapter considers St. Augustine's retreat from public life to contemplate his own, private spiritual condition. In the fourth, Geuss goes on to examine recent liberal views, questioning, in particular, common assumptions about the importance of public dialogue and the purportedly unlimited possibilities humans have for reaching consensus. He suggests that the liberal concern to maintain and protect, even at a very high cost, an inviolable ''private sphere'' for each individual is confused. Geuss concludes that a view of politics and morality derived from Hobbes and Nietzsche is a more realistic and enlightening way than modern liberalism to think about human goods. Ultimately, he cautions, a simplistic understanding of privacy leads to simplistic ideas about what the state is and is not justified in doing. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
I should have liked this book more than I did. I find criticism of "small l" liberalism intrinsically interesting (although I am more-or-less one myself), and Geuss makes an inspired decision to begin his treatment of the public/private distinction with a reference to the (amazing, appalling) public behavior of Diogenes of Sinope. After this promising beginning, however, Geuss generated more frustration for me than insight.
It's true that geneological criticisms of concepts fatigue me, and so I am the wrong person to appreciate the long musings on Caesar and Augustine. Yet I think Geuss makes a real mistake by not confronting the most obvious liberal justifications for the private/public distinction more directly. Yes, there are many show more difficulties with distinguishing private from public. Yes, the liberal doctrine of religious toleration relies on suppressed theological assumptions. And yes, the "right to privacy" is something of a chimerical modern construction. I am on board with all of these points. Nonetheless, an assault on the liberal defence of the private and consequent limitations of the "public" realm should really include treatment the importance liberals place on a) limiting *state* power, b) private property. These are the lynchpins of the private/public distinction for classic liberals, and it's irritating to see an analyst as acute as Geuss piroute around these topics without ever landing on them. (07.09.06) show less
It's true that geneological criticisms of concepts fatigue me, and so I am the wrong person to appreciate the long musings on Caesar and Augustine. Yet I think Geuss makes a real mistake by not confronting the most obvious liberal justifications for the private/public distinction more directly. Yes, there are many show more difficulties with distinguishing private from public. Yes, the liberal doctrine of religious toleration relies on suppressed theological assumptions. And yes, the "right to privacy" is something of a chimerical modern construction. I am on board with all of these points. Nonetheless, an assault on the liberal defence of the private and consequent limitations of the "public" realm should really include treatment the importance liberals place on a) limiting *state* power, b) private property. These are the lynchpins of the private/public distinction for classic liberals, and it's irritating to see an analyst as acute as Geuss piroute around these topics without ever landing on them. (07.09.06) show less
Ratings
Members
- Recently Added By
Author Information
22+ Works 808 Members
Raymond Geuss is Reader in Philosophy at the University of Cambridge.
Series
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, Politics and Government, Philosophy, Religion & Spirituality, History, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 320.51 — Society, government, & culture Political science Types of Government Political ideologies Liberalism
- LCC
- JC574 .G48 — Political Science Political theory Political theory. The state. Theories of the state Purpose, functions, and relations of the state
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 65
- Popularity
- 480,015
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.67)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 4
- ASINs
- 1
