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  • © 2018

Morality, Governance, and Social Institutions

Reflections on Russell Hardin

Palgrave Macmillan
  • Addresses important contemporary questions about social norms, constitutional structures, and political actors in political philosophy and social theory

  • Offers contributions from leading scholars with international reputations in Political Science, Philosophy, Sociology, Economics, and Law

  • Presents empirical case studies from Northern Ireland, Germany, Mexico, and beyond alongside theoretical chapters addressing Hobbes and Hume all stemming from Russell Hardin's work

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Table of contents (13 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiii
  2. Introduction

    • Thomas Christiano, Ingrid Creppell, Jack Knight
    Pages 1-21
  3. The Priority of Social Morality

    • Gerald Gaus
    Pages 23-56
  4. Self-Esteem

    • Geoffrey Brennan
    Pages 57-83
  5. Russell Hardin’s Hobbes

    • Paul-Aarons Ngomo
    Pages 111-130
  6. Collective Action in America Before 1787

    • Jon Elster
    Pages 157-195
  7. “Führer befiehl, wir folgen dir!” Charismatic Leaders in Extremist Groups

    • Michael Baurmann, Gregor Betz, Rainer Cramm
    Pages 259-287
  8. Hardin’s One for All: Insights for Human Rights

    • Kimberly Stanton
    Pages 313-326
  9. Norm-Supporting Emotions: From Villages to Complex Societies

    • Cristina Bicchieri, Erik Thulin
    Pages 327-349
  10. Back Matter

    Pages 351-353

About this book

This book reflects on the research and career of political theorist Russell Hardin from scholars of Political Science, Philosophy, Sociology, Economics, and Law, among other disciplines. Contributions address core issues of political theory as perceived by Hardin, starting with his insistence that many of the basic institutions of modern society and their formative historical beginnings can be understood as proceeding primarily from the self-interested motives of the participants. Many of the contributions in this volume struggle with the constraints imposed on political theorizing by the idea of self-interested agents, or homo economicus. Some reject the idea as empirically unfounded. Others try to show that homo economicus is even more versatile than Hardin depicts. And yet others accept the constraints and work within them. But all pay tribute to the lasting intellectual contribution of Russell Hardin and the challenge he poses. The book should appeal to scholars and students interested in collective action, public choice and democracy, moral reasoning and its limits, constitutionalism, liberalism, conventions and coordination, trust, identity politics, social epistemology, and methods in politics philosophy.

Editors and Affiliations

  • Philosophy, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA

    Thomas Christiano

  • Political Science, George Washington University, Washington, USA

    Ingrid Creppell

  • Law, Duke University, Durham, USA

    Jack Knight

About the editors

Thomas Christiano is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Arizona, USA.

Ingrid Creppell is Associate Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at George Washington University, USA.

Jack Knight is Frederic Cleaveland Professor of Law and Political Science at Duke University, USA.

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access