A System of Rights / Edition 1

by Rex Martin

Overview

The justification of political authority is a long-standing issue of political philosophy, one which persistently defies solution. This book provides an original justification by establishing a framework for dealing with this problem. The model that emerges is one in which certain kinds of political rights are emphasized. Martin discusses the implications of such a system for democratic institutions, political allegiance, punishment, and ultimately for the nature of political authority.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198273745
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	03/18/1993
Pages:	446
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 9.50(h) x 1.24(d)
Lexile:	1550L (what's this?)

About the Author

University of Kansas

Table of Contents

1. On the Logic of Justifying Political Authority2. The Concept of Rights3. Rights as Valid Claims4. Human Rights5. Civil Rights6. Democratic Institutions7. Democracy and Rights8. Allegiance and the Place of Civil Disobedience9. Justifying Coercion: The Problem of Punishment10. Modes of Punishment11. The Right of Inmates to Work12. A System of Rights13. Critical Justification

Editorial Reviews

Released without the usual flurry of hype, Before I Self Destruct fulfills 50 Cent's contractual obligation to the Interscope label. It also doubles as a throwback album, returning the rapper to the hunger and hatred of his early mixtapes while skillfully recasting him as a wannabe upstart. That is, for the most part. The four radio-friendly bedroom numbers that conclude the album are out of place but fairly good to dime-piece beautiful, with the best being the Ne-Yo showcase "Baby by Me" ("Have a baby by me, baby/Be a millionaire"). As pleasing as these final numbers are, if you leave the room after the macho bruiser "I Got Swag" ("I'm infinitely special/Girl the Lord is gonna bless you/If you do what I tell you to do"), you'll return to a confusingly different album, one that's as glamorous but less vital. The monstrous run of tracks that leads up to this flash and polish can be summed up by 50's "This ain't Tha Carter/It's Sparta!," a witty, deceptive, and brutish line barked over a prime Dr. Dre beat during the great "Death to My Enemies." On the cut, the producer sounds like he's been digging on RZA, but the tension and dark-night feel he has created for "{|Psycho|}" is easily identifiable as {|Dre|}. Add an especially rapid {|50|} trading horror-show rhymes with {|Eminem|} and the {|G-Unit|} soldiers will testify that the Shady/Aftermath dream is still alive. While "{|So Disrespectful|}" is the perfect title for a song that shocks, stuns, and brings reminders of the gritty {|G-Unit Radio|} mixtape series at its best, the {|Rick Rock|}-produced "{|Stretch|}" is an even craftier balance of amoral and humorous as it references {|Plastic Man|} and {|Mr. Fantastic|} before explaining the profitable benefits of cutting cocaine. There are only three guest vocalists, and save a production credit for {|Havoc|}, the {|G-Unit|} posse is absent, and yet {|50|} is able to carry the album alone, sounding as inspired as he did on his {|Interscope|} debut. That album, {|Get Rich or Die Tryin|}', beats this one thanks to its proper balance and structure, but {|Before I Self Destruct|} is still a fantastic juggernaut of a {|50|} album if you exit early, and a very good one even if you don't. ~ David Jeffries

From the Publisher