Isaiah Berlin: Liberty and Pluralism

Abstract

Isaiah Berlin was one of the leading thinkers of the twentieth century, and his work continues to attract admiration and debate. George Crowder provides both an accessible introduction to Berlin's ideas and an original contribution to political theory. In this new assessment Crowder argues that Berlin's political thought is exciting and powerful but also marked by a tension between its liberal and pluralist elements. Crowder goes on to suggest how that tension can be resolved by arguments that go beyond the case presented by Berlin while remaining within the spirit of his general outlook.