Publisher Description

In this new and entirely revised edition of his study of Green's theory of positive freedom, Ben Wempe argues that the far-reaching and beneficial influence of Green's political doctrine, on public policy as well as in the field of political theory, was founded on a misinterpretation of his philosophical stand, since the metaphysical basis on which Green argued for his political position was largely neglected. The book discusses Green's philosophical development and examines an important, hitherto underrated, influence that went into the formation of his philosophical opinions. It then considers Green's metaphysics and describes how some omissions from the concise version of his metaphysical doctrine, as it is found in his published works, may be remedied by reference to Green's unpublished material.

Author Biography

Ben Wempe (b. 1954) lives in Amsterdam and lectures on Business & Society at the Rotterdam School of Management at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands. He studied political theory in Leiden, Florence and Oxford. In 1986 he received his Ph.D. from the University of Leiden. His present research interests include Idealism, political theory, organizational ethics, and social contract theories. He has published widely in academic journals such as Acta Politica, Bedrijfskunde, Business Ethics: A European Review, Business Ethics Quarterly, Journal of Business Ethics, Internationale Spectator and Management en Organisatie. In 2003-2004 he was a Visiting Research Fellow at Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford. He also held Visiting Scholarships at the The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA and the Institute for Business and Professional Ethics, DePaul University in Chicago, IL. Dr Wempe is on the Governing Board of the International Association for Business and Society (IABS) and an Associate Editor of Business & Society.

Table of Contents

Preface to the 2004 Edition Acknowledgements Introduction A. The Thesis of the Book B. Green and the Quest for a Philosophy of Life Chapter I: Green's Philosophical Development A. Misapprehensions as to Hegel's Intellectual Influence on Green B. Green's Study of Hegel C. The Philosophische Propadeutik D. The Parallel Structure of Epistemology and Psychology in the Propadeutik E. Insights Green Derived from the Propadeutik F. Green and Aristotle G. Conclusion Chapter II: 'Certain Primary Problems ...' A. The Function of Idealist Metaphysics in Green's Moral Philosophy B. The Structure of Green's Argument in Prolegomena C. Metaphysics of Knowledge D. The Teleological Principle in Reality E. Teleology, Time and Eternity F. Green's General Metaphysics and Its Critics G. Green's Doctrine of the Self-assertion of Reason in his Unpublished Lectures H. Conclusion Chapter III: Positive Freedom A. Green's Theory of Positive Freedom in his Political Speech B. Metaphysical Foundations of Green's Positive Concept of Freedom C. Positive Freedom and Political Obligation D. The Relationship of Morality and Politics in Green's Earlier Lectures E. Conclusion Chapter IV: Theory and Practice A. Politics in Mid-Victorian England: B. Theory and Practice in Green's Thinking C. Green's Criticism of Utilitarian Social Theory D. The Logic of Classical Liberal Political Theory E. The Professorial Lectures on Utilitarianism F. Green and Mill G. Conclusion Chapter V: Positive Freedom Revisited A. Positive Freedom in Theory and Practice, 1882-1950 B. Twentieth Century Conceptual Criticism of Green C. Berlin's Two Concepts of Liberty D. A Rejoinder to Twentieth Century Criticism of Green E. On Political Theory F. Conclusion Bibliography Index

Review

"Closely written, broadly informative on Green's political theory, doubtless open to disagreements on his metaphysical account, Wempe's book may serve to indicate the importance of the latter when present in an author's work." -- P.A. Monaghan History of Political Thought "Anyone seeking an overview of the place of liberty in Green's thought will find Wempe's study helpful... [It] certainly ought to be of interest to students of the history of political philosophy in the Victorian era." -- Luke O'Sullivan "Wempe makes a powerful case both for his interpretation of Green's theory of positive freedom and positive freedom more generally." -- Thom Brooks Times Higher Education Supplement "Wempe's book is rich in scholarly content and argument and embodies a deep knowledge of Green's works that repays intensive study." -- Andrew Vincent Victorian Studies

Long Description

In this new and entirely revised edition of his study of Green's theory of positive freedom, Ben Wempe argues that the far-reaching and beneficial influence of Green's political doctrine, on public policy as well as in the field of political theory, was founded on a misinterpretation of his philosophical stand, since the metaphysical basis on which Green argued for his political position was largely neglected. The book discusses Green's philosophical development and examines an important, hitherto underrated, influence that went into the formation of his philosophical opinions. It then considers Green's metaphysics and describes how some omissions from the concise version of his metaphysical doctrine, as it is found in his published works, may be remedied by reference to Green's unpublished material.

Review Quote

"Wempe's book is rich in scholarly content and argument and embodies a deep knowledge of Green's works that repays intensive study."

Details