From Kirkus Reviews
This posthumous collection of essays doesn't work well as a book but is worth reading anyway. Shklar's (Ordinary Vices, 1984, etc.) untimely death in 1992 left a hole in Harvard's political-science department and a project on American political thought unfinished. Two colleagues attempt to address the latter in this volume by presenting 13 of her essays on the subject, only four of which have previously appeared. While the serious, impressive scholarship characteristic of Shklar's work is evident here, however, the result is more frustrating than illuminating. Writing about American political thought has always been problematic: Without great philosophical works to serve as touchstones, scholars are confronted with a wide variety of source material to blend together into a coherent theory. Shklar quite rightly rejects the traditional oversimplifications of consensualism (Americans are all basically liberals) and exceptionalism (American political experience is unique) that have been used to obscure the richness and diversity of American political thought. Unfortunately, her impressive forays into that richness and diversity--exploring figures from Hamilton to Hawthorne, and topics ranging from friendship to rights--yields no general framework that illuminates the whole. The veins of American intellectual history are mined selectively, at times repetitively, and with large areas left untouched. For example, while the Jefferson-Adams correspondence is indeed one of the great treasures of early American political thought, it's introduced and consulted extensively in several essays, while anything beyond a passing mention of a person or event from the postCivil War period is hard to find. Historical description rather than philosophical generalization was always Shklar's strength, but with the time to shape these essays into a book her efforts would have constituted a much more significant contribution to American political thought. It's tragic that this will not occur. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.


Book Description
Noted political philosopher Judith Shklar declined to write a book about American political thought because, she once claimed, "the subject is too hard." She finally took on this formidable task late in her career, but her untimely death left most of the work unpublished. Now Redeeming American Political Thought makes these essays, some published here for the first time, available to readers.

In these thirteen essays, Shklar explores two themes crucial to discussions of American democracy: first, what she terms the "fundamental social condition" of American life, the tension between expansive political equality and persistent social inequality; and second, "redeeming" American political thought for those who believe it lacks the complexity and depth of the European tradition. She covers issues ranging from the use of history in political discourse to the effect of skepticism on politics and thinkers from Hamilton and Jefferson to Melville. The strength and depth of this collection underscore Shklar's reputation as one of this century's most important liberal scholars.

Judith N. Shklar (1928-1992) was Cowles Professor of Government at Harvard University and the author of nine books in political philosophy.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Noted political philosopher Judith Shklar declined to write a book about American political thought because, she once claimed, "the subject is too hard." She finally took on this formidable task late in her career, but her untimely death left most of the work unpublished. Now Redeeming American Political Thought makes these essays, some published here for the first time, available to readers.

In these thirteen essays, Shklar explores two themes crucial to discussions of American democracy: first, what she terms the "fundamental social condition" of American life, the tension between expansive political equality and persistent social inequality; and second, "redeeming" American political thought for those who believe it lacks the complexity and depth of the European tradition. She covers issues ranging from the use of history in political discourse to the effect of skepticism on politics and thinkers from Hamilton and Jefferson to Melville. The strength and depth of this collection underscore Shklar's reputation as one of this century's most important liberal scholars.

Judith N. Shklar (1928-1992) was Cowles Professor of Government at Harvard University and the author of nine books in political philosophy.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal

These two impressive volumes contain selected essays of the late Harvard political theorist Shklar. Included are her landmark essay, "The Liberalism of Fear;" her analysis of political philosophers such as Arendt, Rousseau, Montesquieu, and Walzer; her insights into utopian political thought; and her treatment of significant literary figures such as Emerson, Hawthorne, de Tocqueville, and Henry Adams. These two volumes not only allow the reader to confront Shklar's formidable intellectual defense of liberalism and analysis of oppression and injustice but demand that the reader confront critical issues that will continue to face American and Western political thought and practice for decades to come. As treated by Shklar, American political thought is revealed as the complex, intellectually serious entity it is. Shklar confronted the human condition and found that it demanded serious scrutiny and careful criticism, especially given the tendencies toward cynicism, despair, and exclusionary politics so prevalent in the modern era. Anyone at all interested in American political theory, American political thinkers, Western political theory, and intellectual history must read these two excellent editions of Shklar's original, stimulating, and thought-provoking work. Highly recommended for all libraries.Stephen K. Shaw, Northwest Nazarene Coll., Nampa, ID

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