FARMER GEORGE & THE HUNGRY GUESTS - Hardcover

This ambitious and lively book argues for a rehabilitation of the concept of 'human needs' as central to politics and political theory. Contemporary political philosophy has focussed on issues of justice and welfare to the exclusion of the important issues of political participation, democratic sovereignty, and the satisfaction of human needs, and this has had a deleterious effect on political practice. Lawrence Hamilton develops a compelling positive conception of human needs: the evaluation of needs must be located within a more general analysis of institutions, but can in turn help to justify forms of coercive authority that are directed toward the transformation of political and social institutions and practices. His argument is animated throughout by provocative and original discussions of topics such as autonomy, recognition, rights, civil society, liberalism, and democracy, and will interest a wide range of readers in political and social philosophy, political theory, law, development and policy.

There are mysterious goings on at Farmer George's farm. First the milk churn has been emptied, and then a whole bag of oats disappears. So, Farmer George goes off in search of clues so that he can get to the bottom of these strange incidents.