Ideal Theory: What It Was

Abstract Philosophers and political theorists recently have had a common project: to reflect on the merits of realism and idealism in political theory. No one opposes being realistic or idealistic per se. The serious question is, what would make one attempt to articulate ideals better than another? Let’s say realism studies the human condition as it is, while idealism studies the human condition as it could be. Thus described, realism and idealism are compatible. No one objects to studying the human condition—as it is or as it could be. What divides scholars is not whether to theorize about ideals, but how to do it competently.