The Four Conceptions Reconsidered

This chapter is devoted to further reflection on the four conceptions of political theory. It is designed to address some of the issues that arise for political theorists from the preceding discussion. The question to which it is implicitly addressed concerns what political theorists might do in response to this book. The shortest, simplest and most realistic answer to this question is: nothing much different from what they have been doing. Most political theorists have already been trained in and are already committed to the basic principles of one of the conceptions outlined. Some of us will argue that one or other of the conceptions is better or is better for the times in which we find ourselves. We will never know whether this is simply self-serving. I know that I will continue to teach political theory from within a traditionalist conception. This is a result of my training, my personal inclinations at this point in time and my ability to persuade myself that there is something valuable for my students in my doing so.