Karl Popper

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Karl Popper is best known for his contributions to the philosophy of science and the history of ideas. Elements of Popper's thought were clearly libertarian or conservative in character. His politics, however, were recognisably social democratic. His ideal of an open society was not a free market utopia, but a political community in which diverse people engaged with one another in constructive dialogue to seek political solutions to common problems. If Popper made important and enduring contributions to the libertarian and conservative traditions, it would be a mistake to uncritically label him a conservative or libertarian. Rather, Popper was a scholar who contributed to a range of different fields without being shackled to one particular perspective or approach. It is in this context that we should understand Popper's contribution to libertarian and conservative thought.

Reviews

"The volumes in this timely series comprise the most comprehensive body of material on conservative and libertarian thought yet published in a single project devoted to the subject. The series will prove an indispensable tool not only for those concerned with the history of political thought but also for those who confront the challenging task of constructing a viable contemporary conservative identity. Professor Meadowcroft had a difficult editorial task, to which he has responded with a judicious choice of thinkers and topics." Noel O'Sullivan, Professor of Political Philosophy, the University of Hull, UK.
"Parvin has packed a lot into a small book, with chapters on Popper's intellectual biography; his leading ideas in epistemology, politics and the social sciences; the reception of his ideas on politics; and their contemporary relevance."-CriticalRationalism.net

Author Bio

Phil Parvin is a Senior Lecturer in Politics at Loughborough University, UK. He is a specialist in contemporary political philosophy, in particular issues concerning liberal justice, democracy, multiculturalism, and the theory and practice of political lobbying.