Foundations of Civic Engagement is a comprehensive survey and reassessment of the entire field of social and political philosophy. Suitable for use as a primary text for courses on political thought, this book explores the basic arguments of the most important historical and contemporary figures—including Ancient Greek, modern and contemporary theories of communitarianism, social contract, feminism, postmodernsim, Marxism, and theories of communicative actions—and offers a thematic critique and integration of these philosophies.

There has been endless debate about the exchanges regarding the relation of divine love and piety in Plato’s Euthyphro. This debate has mostly missed what is truly puzzling about these exchanges—and hence the import of the dialogue as a whole—which is why Socrates is able to refute Euthyphro, the man. What is particularly puzzling is why Euthyphro accepts the suggestion that leads to his refutation. In answering this question by analyzing the drama of the dialogue, I discuss the deeper issue (...) in the dialogue—the significance and nature of human autonomy. (shrink)

This comprehension interpretation of Plato’s Euthyphro illuminates the necessary tension between tradition and autonomy in human and political life. Norman J. Fischer II argues that the dialogue defends Socrates by revealing the weaknesses of his opponents’ understanding of piety and the human soul, implicitly arguing for a Socratic alternative.