In the inaugural set of Seeley Lectures, the distinguished political philosopher James Tully addresses the demands for cultural recognition that constitute the major conflicts of today: supranational associations, nationalism and federalism, linguistic and ethnic minorities, feminism, multiculturalism and aboriginal self government. Neither modern nor post-modern constitutionalism can adjudicate such claims justly. However, by surveying 400 years of constitutional practice, with special attention to the American aboriginal peoples, Tully develops a new philosophy of constitutionalism based on dialogues of conciliation which, he argues, have the capacity to mediate contemporary conflicts and bring peace to the twenty-first century. Strange Multiplicity brings profound historical, critical and philosophical perspectives to our most pressing contemporary conflicts, and provides an authoritative guide to constitutional possibilities in a multicultural age.

1994年，塔利教授應邀擔任首屆約翰・羅伯特・西利講座的演講人。西利講座為英國劍橋大學曆史係與齣版社共同主辦，邀請國際傑齣學者，以明白易懂的語言講述社會與政治領域中切中實際的普遍議題。

本書在塔利的講稿“歧異時代的憲政主義”基礎上編著而成。書中，塔利直麵當代政治領域，由各民族爭取文化承認之要求所引發的衝突和睏境。他運用維特根斯坦元語言理論之哲學原則，對四百年來歐洲憲政思潮及其殖民史進行批判性的檢視，以此發展齣一種具備“後帝國主義”式的憲政哲學與實務。這種憲政哲學，弘揚所謂“海達族傢園的精神”，即強調各民族的公民們在古憲法常規的指導下，共同緻力於對話和協商，以找齣調解彼此間文化差異的恰當形式。