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Single Idea 21905

[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / a. Liberalism basics ]

Full Idea

For liberal theory, it is the individual to be governed, not the governor, who is the starting point.

Gist of Idea

Liberal theory starts from the governed, not from the governor

Source

Todd May (Gilles Deleuze [2006], 4.02)

Book Ref

May,Todd: 'Gilles Deleuze' [CUP 2006], p.118


A Reaction

I'm inclined to see this as the single-handed achievement of Thomas Hobbes, who starts from the need of citizens to secure their contracts. Plato's society starts from entrepreneurs, but their need for a ruler seems a priori.