Basic, natural human rights have been identified as the bulwark against government oppression and tyranny-- by John Locke, for example -- but are always disputed by skeptics on numerous grounds. Human Rights and Human Liberties takes up the challenge of those disputes and argues that human beings do indeed have the fundamental, unalienable rights to their lives, liberty, pursuit of happiness, and so forth -- indeed, to do whatever they will that does not violate the rights of others (even if the exercise of their rights isn't wise, prudent, or civil). That is the meaning of living as free adult men and women, with all the benefits and risks that flow from it. This book is especially germane now that the most prominent legal theorists in the West tend to dismiss basic human rights and even insist they are grants of governments, just as this had been viewed in earlier times when monarchs and such were believed to rule people and grant them some privileges.

This book delivers concise, yet insightful summaries of the crucial political systems and the ideas of prominent political philosophers throughout history. It is designed to provide students new to the field with a familiarity of the various political viewpoints, as a matter of conscientious citizenship. From Conservatism, to Monarchism, to Socialism, "Introduction to Political Philosophy" examines a wide range of influential political systems and illustrates how most societies around the globe exhibit a blend of systems. Students will also learn about the influences and ideas of the great political philosophers, including Socrates, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, and Marx. This is an ideal supplement for introductory level courses dealing with the complexities of political thought, or anyone interested in developing a baseline understanding of political philosophy.
Tibor R. Machan, Professor Emeritus at the Department of Philosophy at Auburn University, holds the R. C. Hoiles Chair in Free Enterprise and Business Ethics at the Argyros School of Business & Economics at Chapman University. He is also a Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. Machan is the author of 40+ books, editor of 20+ others, and is a syndicated and freelance columnist. He has also written over one hundred scholarly papers. He lectures in Europe, South Africa, New Zealand, the Republic of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Latin America on business ethics and political philosophy.