Democratic Spirit of Law

Inbunden, Engelska, 2016

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Beskrivning

In this major new work, Dominique Schnapper continues her investigation into changes in contemporary democracy. Although she concentrates on the French example, The Democratic Spirit of Law concerns all democratic societies.Schnapper warns against the danger of corrupting the "principles," as defined by Montesquieu, on which democracy is based. If democracy becomes "extreme," all its founding principles risk being corrupted. Respect for institutions is necessary for freedom to be effective. Furthermore, if democrats cease to distinguish between facts and values, religion and politics, politics and the judiciary, knowledge and opinion, and knowledge and intuition, they will sink into absolute relativism or a nihilism that threatens the very values on which democratic society is based.By pointing out the danger of corruption inherent in the democratic promise of freedom, equality, and happiness, the author provides intellectual weapons not only to understand, but also to defend democracy, the only system in history, despite its limits and failures, that has humanely organized human societies. Democracy's future depends on citizens' preservation of the founding spirit of the democratic order: recognition of others, and free, reasonable, and controlled criticism of legitimate institutions.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum:2016-01-30
Mått:152 x 229 x undefined mm
Vikt:385 g
Format:Inbunden
Språk:Engelska
Antal sidor:206
Förlag:Taylor & Francis Inc
ISBN:9781412862523

Utforska kategorier

Statsskick: demokrati inom Samhälle och politik

Mer om författaren

Dominique Schnapper is a sociologist and professor at the School of Higher Social Science Studies. She was a member of the French Supreme Court from 2001 to 2010 and has devoted much of her work to reflections on citizenship and social integration, in particular that of Jews in French society, and to the transformations of contemporary democracy.

Innehållsförteckning

AcknowledgmentsPreface by Mark LillaIntroduction"Well-Regulated" Democracy versus "Extreme"DemocracyThe Two CritiquesA Sociological ProjectRisks of Deviation and "Corruption"1 The Temptation of the UnlimitedFrom Autonomy to the Rejection of All DependenceAutonomy and IndependenceAutonomy and Collective ConstraintsFrom Citizenship to Democracy of the IntimateThe ExtensionInternalizationFrom Scientific Progress to the World Without LimitsThe Illusion of OmnipotenceTime's Discordance2 From Liberty to LicenseThe Critical Relationship Toward InstitutionsContestationFrom Marriage to PACS and Back Again"Free" ChoicesDifficult TransmissionThe Child and the School: Between the Republic and BusinessThe Museum as a Cultural EnterpriseRepresentation in Crisis?To Bypass or To Complement?The Dream of Ultra-DemocracyDisintegration of Republican TranscendenceReturn through Technology?3 From Equality to IndistinctionIndistinction of OrdersSeparation of the Political and of the Ethno-ReligiousFrom Autonomy to Confusion?The Rejection of BoundariesIndistinction of PersonsThe Utopia of Generalized ExchangesThe Pure and the ImpureAnimal and HumanIndistinction of ValuesFrom Relative Relativism to Absolute RelativismDemocratic Tolerance4 Criticism of CriticismThe Achievements of the Republican PromiseMore FreedomMore ToleranceRicher and Less UnequalSociety of HumiliationIntegration through Individualism?Face Up to FailureLess Poor and More HumiliatedConclusionHistoric DestiniesIts Own Worst Enemy?BibliographyIndex