T.H. GREEN AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF ETHICAL SOCIALISM

"This book uncovers the philosophical foundations of a tradition of ethical socialism, best represented in the work of R. H. Tawney, tracing its roots back to the work of T. H. Green and the British idealists." "The book also investigates the application and reception of these philosophical arguments in Nineteenth and early Twentieth Century Britain. The Christians Holland and Gore provide one useful example of the way that idealism was applied. The 'Christian socialism' developed in the meeting rooms of the Christian Social Union was as much down to the work of T. H. Green as it was to the pages of the Bible. New Liberalism too provided an outlet for the work of the idealists and the book shows their role in the Formulation of New Liberal ideas." "Finally the book shows how the philosophy and political ideology developed by this group was used to establish a tradition of ethical socialism, and helped to underpin the thought of the pre-eminent ethical socialist, R. H. Tawney. Even if he lacked an obvious philosophical interest, Tawney was as much a part of this tradition of thought as Bernard Bosanquet, Sidney Ball and R. B. Haldane. Tawney adopted the key features of the idealists' philosophical settlement and used them to help shape his own notions of true freedom and equality, thereby establishing a tradition of thought which remains relevant in British politics today."--BOOK JACKET.