Facts & Norms

Question on the Role of Facts in Normative Political Theory

What role should (non-normative) facts such as people’s confined generosity and scarcity of resources play in the normative theorising of political philosophers? The chapters in this book investigate different aspects of this broad question.

Discussion on Methodological Assumptions

Political philosophers are often silent on questions of what types of facts are relevant, if any, for normative theory, and what methodological assumptions about agency and behaviour need to be made, if any such assumptions are necessary. However, due to recent debates among and between idealists, non-idealists and realists in political theory, the issue about the relation between facts and norms in political philosophy/theory is beginning to attract greater attention from political theorists/philosophers.

Publication Information

The chapters in this book were originally published in the journal Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy.