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.