ABSTRACT

Is the state a necessity, a convenience, or neither? It enforces collective choices in which some override the preferences and dispose of the resources of others. Moreover, collective choice serves as its own source of authority and preempts the space it wishes to occupy. The morality and efficacy of the result are perennial questions central to political philosophy.
In Against Politics Jasay takes a closely reasoned stand, based on modern rational choice arguments, for rejecting much of mainstream thought about these matters. In the first part of the book, Excuses, he assesses the standard justification of government based consent, the power of constitutions to achieve limited government, and ideas for reforming politics. In the second part, Emergent Solutions , he explores the force of first principles to secure liberties and rights and some of the potential of spontaneous conventions for generating ordered anarchy.
Written with clarity and simplicity, this powerful volume represents the central part of Jasay's recent work. Fully accessible to the general reader, it should stimulate the specialist reader to fresh thought.

chapter |8 pages

Introduction

part |2 pages

Part I Excuses

chapter 1|28 pages

Self-contradictory contractarianism

chapter 2|25 pages

Is limited government possible?

chapter 4|32 pages

Values and the social order

chapter 5|15 pages

The twistable is not testable

chapter 6|11 pages

Hayek: some missing pieces

chapter 7|10 pages

The rule of forces, the force of rules

part |2 pages

Part II Emergent solutions

chapter 8|49 pages

Before resorting to politics

chapter 10|5 pages

The glass is half-full