The Priority of the Person

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In this work, world-class philosopher David Walsh argues that "person" is the central category of modern political thought and philosophy, building on ideas from his earlier book, Politics of the Person as the Politics of Being. The text is structured in three main parts, starting with the political discovery of the inexhaustibility of persons, followed by a philosophical exploration of the differentiation of the "person," and concluding with its historical emergence through art, science, and faith. Walsh posits that while the roots of the "person" concept lie in Greek notions of the mind and Christian ideas of the soul, it is ultimately a modern achievement. The modern focus on interiority reveals the unique nature of persons as worlds unto themselves. This characteristic enables genuine knowledge and communication between individuals, allowing for friendship and the building of community. By emphasizing the person as modernity's central concern, Walsh illustrates how true self-giving and community development can only occur through recognizing each other as persons. This work significantly contributes to contemporary discussions in political theory and philosophy, appealing to students and scholars in theology, literature, and those interested in personalism.