The Skeptic's Oakeshott

"The Skeptic's Oakeshott puts forth the idea that Michael Oakeshott's political philosophy is best understood from the vantage point of his skepticism and his intellectual affinity to Hobbes, whose work he commented on extensively. Gerencser argues that Oakeshott adopts and softens Hobbes' idea of consent as the basis of political authority. By insisting that political authority has its source in acknowledgement and recognition, Oakeshott's philosophy opens the doors to democratic politics. The book ends with persuasive criticisms of Oakeshott, especially for thinking that politics offers only two alternatives - either the legitimacy of authority is universally recognized or civil war and secession are the result. Gerencser argues for the necessity of conflict and the contestation of the legitimacy of authority. He uses examples from Oakeshott's own work to show that civil disobediance is not only integral to democratic politics, but is required by Oakeshort's own understanding of the political."--BOOK JACKET.