Dialogue 39 (1):189-191 (
2000)
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Abstract
John Seery begins his book with a stirring condemnation of current political theory. He was attracted to the discipline, he reports, because it promised more than a life of idle speculation and disinterested contemplation. Though ensconced in academe, political theorists "at least have one foot out the door." However, political theory has lost its connection to the real world. Much current writing is predictable and formulaic, too much time is spent scoring points, establishing professional authority, and promoting career options: "The contemporary game is simple enough and avid participants know the rules: Carve out an arcane niche and call it a contribution". Seery implies that recognizing the significance of death will provide at least a partial remedy to this professional malaise. Ultimately he proposes a revised social contract that takes death "more robustly into account."