Preface

B
The ideal author for this book would be expert in several social sciences
before rushing in with reflections. It will become plain that I am far from
ideal. Happily I have large debts to acknowledge, especially to Bryan
Heading and Quentin Skinner. The former has guided me patiently down
sociological paths and the themes of the book have been nurtured in our
joint seminar at the University of East Anglia. I am very conscious of
owing him more than the text reveals. The latter has been a fount of
comment and encouragement and his work on the study of history has
been in my mind throughout. My explicit borrowings are only a tithe of
what I have gained from him. It is a great pleasure to record my deep
gratitude to them both.
My warm thanks are due also to others who have read parts of an earlier
version or discussed issues with me, notably to Michael Bloch, Alan Dawe,
Gareth Jones, Tony Kenny, Steven Lukes, Nick Nathan, Tim O’Hagan,
Alan Ryan and David Wiggins.
I have reused, particularly in Chapter 1, some material first published
under the title ‘My Role and its Duties’ in R. S. Peters, ed., Nature and
Conduct (Royal Institute of Philosophy Lectures, vol. viii, 1975), and
acknowledge permission to reprint it.
Finally I owe H. A. Simon an apology for stealing the title Models of Man,
which catches my theme so much better than any I could hit upon. I hope
he will accept this piece of poaching as a gesture of admiration for his
finely etched monograph.

ix
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