On Attempts to Gerrymander “Positive” and “Normative” Political Theory: Six Theses

We aim to cast doubt on the now conventional distinction between “positive” and “normative political theory by shifting the burden of argument. We do not claim it is impossible to categorically differentiate political theory into “positive” and “normative” varieties. We do suggest the most familiar, extant strategies for approaching that task are implausible. We hope in the process to show that there are perfectly good reasons to set the task aside as counterproductive.