This book presents an argument against moral relativism and in favour of the objectivity of a theory of democratic individuality. It develops the parallels between various versions of scientific and moral realism, and then reinterprets the history and internal logic of democratic theory.

Introduction; Part I. The Theory of Freedom and Individuality: Slavery, Mutual Recognition and Modern Egalitarianism: 1. Empiricism, neokantianism and realism in science and ethics; 2. The capacity for moral personality and the ambiguities of liberalism; 3. A common good and justice in war; 4. Neokantianism and moral realism; Part II. Reltrieval of Democracy and Individuality in Marxian Theory: 5. Historical materialism and justice; 6. Two kinds of historical progress; 7. The Aristotelian lineage of Marx's eudaimonism; 8. Radical democracy and individuality; Part III. Liberalism, Marxism and Moral Objectivity: 9. The Protestant Ethic and Marxian theory; 10. Nationalism and the dangers of predatory 'liberalism'; 11. Status and politics; 12. Bureaucracy, socialism and a common good; 13. Levels of Et disagreement and the controversy between neokantianism and realism; Bibliography.