Making Sense of Diseases and Disasters: Reflections of Political Theory from Antiquity to the Age of COVID

This book explores diseases and disasters from the perspective of social and political theory, shedding light on what they can teach us about politics, society, and human nature. It includes thinkers such as Thucydides, Sophocles, Augustine, Bacon, Locke, Hume, Rousseau, Publius, Bartolomé de las Casas, Jane Addams, Camus, Saramago, Baudrillard, Weber, Schmitt, Voegelin, and Agamben, and considers a diverse range of events such as the plagues of Byzantium and 14th century Europe, 9/11, the hurricanes of Fukushima, Boxing Day, and New Orleans, and the current COVID pandemic.

Format: Hardback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 12 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book delves into the examination of diseases and disasters from the perspective of social and political theory, exploring the diverse ways in which political leaders, social activists, historians, philosophers, and writers have sought to make sense of the catastrophic events that have plagued humankind throughout history. By adopting a political theory lens, it sheds light on the lessons and insights these individuals and events can offer us about politics, society, and human nature, as well as the limitations and boundaries of political theory. Spanning a wide range of events, including the plagues of Byzantium and 14th-century Europe, the devastating hurricanes of Fukushima, Boxing Day, and New Orleans, and the ongoing COVID pandemic, this volume brings together a diverse array of thinkers such as Thucydides, Sophocles, Augustine, Bacon, Locke, Hume, Rousseau, Publius, Bartolomé de las Casas, Jane Addams, Camus, Saramago, Baudrillard, Weber, Schmitt, Voegelin, and Agamben. Through their diverse perspectives, the book considers the complexities of disease and disaster, their social and political implications, and the ways in which individuals and societies react to them. This comprehensive exploration will appeal to scholars of politics, sociology, anthropology, and philosophy with interests in disaster and the social body, offering valuable insights into the enduring challenges and opportunities posed by these phenomena.

Weight: 620g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032053950