Philosophy of Politics

The political sphere in the U.S. at the moment is full of lively debate. Health care, climate change, same-sex marriage, war, and a variety of other topics are leading to increasingly contentious clashes between various social movements, large economic and political institutions, and various political parties and perspectives. So far, most of my response to this has consisted of scattered piecemeal commentary on single issues as they come up on Facebook or elsewhere. The time has come, however, for a more comprehensive analysis of the situation.

Revolution of One was my first effort at a comprehensive approach to politics. My focus in that book, however, is almost purely practical. The book outlines a simple but powerful strategy that individuals and communities who believe in ecological and social justice can use to empower themselves, improve their communities, and create a better society. Rather than making arguments in favor of that sort of society, it describes personal practices, community organizations, and regional projects that can serve as catalysts in the transformation from here to there.

I still stand by Revolution of One, and I still believe it can be a powerful tool for many people who already have values and sensibilities similar to my own. However, the more I think about it, the more I realize that I'd like to write a comprehensive explanation of what my political philosophy is and why I believe what I do.

This is no simple or easy task. Really, it is the life's work of any author who chooses to focus on philosophy of politics. I've decided that the best way for me to go about this is by writing a series of individual articles on various components of my philosophy. Who knows -- in the long run, I may even tie them together into a book someday.

I'll be sharing these articles in my blog, in a new section of my website, and on my Facebook and MySpace profiles. I'll be starting with at least one or two general articles that explore what I consider to be the foundations of the philosophy of politics and my own approach to political philosophy. Then, I'll be moving on to articles about "single-issue" debates such as health care, climate change, same sex marriage, and war.

To someone who's not a philosopher or a politician, this may sound a bit dry and dull. But I think it has the potential to be incredibly exciting. Revolutionary thinkers of the past have often developed their philosophies through extensive correspondence and lively political debate. At the time, an outsider may have just seen two philosophers or politicians exchanging letters or having a purely intellectual debate. But in the end, on a good day, these are the sorts of discussions that can shape the course of entire nations.

And that, I dare say, is my goal.

I still have tremendous faith in the power of the written and spoken word to shape the hearts, minds, and actions of the people. I also have faith in the idea that reason, rational discourse, and strategic action in the service of our greatest and deepest potential as human beings is one of our greatest hopes in the struggle for creating a better world.

Rather than looking to "leaders" and "experts" for answers to our philosophical questions and solutions to our political problems, we must look to ourselves and each other. And in that spirit, as time permits, I will press onward with a variety of explorations of philosophy of politics.