The Good Society and Tyrants: The Intractable Struggle

By Joel Seligman and Mary Schwab Seligman

The Good Society and Tyrants: The Intractable Struggle explores the enduring challenge of realizing and maintaining a Good Society. The text examines historical, social science, and philosophical perspectives on what constitutes a fair and just society that respects the diversity of its people.

Part I of the book describes leading illustrations of Good Societies: Plato's Republic, the Book of Exodus, Christian society as described in the Corinthian Letters and Revelation, the Koran, Marx, and modern constitutional democracy. It describes the foundational aspects shared by each of these societies: sufficient population, liberation or revolution, charismatic leadership, shared ideology, faith or religion, and mechanisms to enforce a shared culture.

Part II examines why Good Societies are never fully achieved, focusing on tyrants. The closing chapter explores why all societies, good or tyrannical, are inherently fragile.

The Good Society and Tyrants is ideal for courses focusing on political philosophy, history, political science, and religious studies, specifically those exploring social constructs, leadership dynamics, and governance.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FJK8DSL4
• ISBN13: 9798823376372
• Release Date: June 2025
• Publisher: Cognella Academic Publishing
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 1.07 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 8.0" x 10.0"