In this series of interviews and dialogues which took place between 1981 and 2003, Paul Ricoeur addresses some of the central questions of political philosophy and ethics: justice, violence, war, the environmental crisis, the question of evil, ethical and political action in the polis. Philosophical issues are brought to bear on present-day concerns and the practical realities of contemporary politics.
How can the philosopher speak about politics without claiming superior insight or a higher order of knowledge? Ricoeur distinguishes three levels of society: 'tools' (modes of production and the accumulation of technology), 'institutions' (which are tied to national cultures) and 'values' (which claim to be universal). The philosopher's task is to probe each of these levels and open up spaces for reflection, criticism and democratic deliberation. It is to explore the paradoxes of the political rather than invoking certainties dictated by conscience. Just as there no longer exists a grand narrative about the past, so too there is no longer any utopia capable of projecting the desired future. What remains is human creativity, which marks the source common to the institutional frameworks that are already present and the horizons that extend beyond them. The philosopher's engagement lies in the promise to revive this source at the very moment it appears to dry up under the weight of the real.
This volume of interviews and dialogues with one of the most important French philosophers of the post-war period will be of interest to anyone interested in the great political and ethical questions of our time.

- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub
Philosophy, Ethics, and Politics
About this book
Trusted by 375,005 students
Access to over 1.5 million titles for a fair monthly price.
Study more efficiently using our study tools.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Table of Contents
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Preface by Michaël Foessel
- 1. I’m Waiting for the Renaissance
- 2. Sketch of a Plea for the Capable Human Being
- 3. Paul Ricoeur: Act, He Said
- 4. The Polis is Fundamentally Perishable – Its Survival Depends on Us
- 5. History as Narrative and as Practice
- 6. Justice and the Market
- 7. For an Ethics of Compromise
- 8. Any News of the War?
- 9. The Challenge of Evil for Philosophy
- 10. Ethics, Politics, Ecology
- 11. Ethics, Between Bad and Worse
- 12. Art, Language, and Aesthetic Hermeneutics
- Index
- End User License Agreement
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can cancel anytime from the Subscription tab in your account settings on the Perlego website. Your subscription will stay active until the end of your current billing period. Learn how to cancel your subscription
No, books cannot be downloaded as external files, such as PDFs, for use outside of Perlego. However, you can download books within the Perlego app for offline reading on mobile or tablet. Learn how to download books offline
Perlego offers two plans: Essential and Complete
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.5M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
We are an online textbook subscription service, where you can get access to an entire online library for less than the price of a single book per month. With over 1.5 million books across 990+ topics, we’ve got you covered! Learn about our mission
Look out for the read-aloud symbol on your next book to see if you can listen to it. The read-aloud tool reads text aloud for you, highlighting the text as it is being read. You can pause it, speed it up and slow it down. Learn more about Read Aloud
Yes! You can use the Perlego app on both iOS and Android devices to read anytime, anywhere — even offline. Perfect for commutes or when you’re on the go.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app
Yes, you can access Philosophy, Ethics, and Politics by Paul Ricoeur, Kathleen Blamey in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Philosophy & Modern Philosophy. We have over 1.5 million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.