General introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores ways in which the analytic and conceptual tools of epistemology bear on political philosophy, and vice versa. It summarizes empirical research on, for instance, political polarization, voter knowledge, and cognitive bias. The book provides a general audience and presupposes no detailed knowledge of the area. It explores several ways in which political philosophy and epistemology have intersected in the philosophical thought of ancient Greece, early Chinese political theory, and medieval Islamic philosophy. The book also explores the causes, consequences, and possible antidotes to political polarization and intractable disagreement in politics. It describes the origins of increasing polarization and partisan animosity to the role of social identity in politics. The book also describes the question of what makes political decision-making legitimate.