Democracy and the Ethical Life : A Philosophy of Politics and Community (Second Edition, Expanded)

This study goes to the heart of ethics and politics. Strongly argued and lucidly written, the book makes a crucial distinction between two forms of democracy. The author defends constitutional democracy as potentially supportive of the ethical life, while he criticizes the plebiscitary form of democracyas undermiining man's moral nature. The book includes an extensive interpretation and refutation of the ideas of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and offers a new perspective on the American Constitution and the relationship between moral community and self-interest. This edition includes an important new section on the common good and the state of Western democracy. PRAISE FOR THE BOOK: "One of the best books on the terrain where politics and morality precariously overlap, recommended vigorously to all who are concerned with the loss of political morality."--Peter Viereck "An excellent and much needed analysis, and synthesis, of the relation of man's moral life to democratic, constitutional self rule."--Vera Lex Contents Prefatory Note for the 1990 Edition Acknowledgments Part One: Democracy as an Ethico-Philosophical Preblem I. Democracy and Man's Moral Predicament II. Human Experience and the "Scientific Method" Part Two: The Ethical Life III. The Duality of Human Nature IV. The Ethics of Community Part Three: Rousseau's General Will: Moral Fact or Utopian Fiction? V. The Political Moralism of Rousseau VI. The Rebirth of Nature VII. The General Will VIII. Utopian Dreams and Harsh Realities Part Four: The Ethics of Constitutiona Democracy IX. Constitutionalism and Popular Sovereignty X. The Spirit of Constitutionalism XI. Constitutionalism versus Plebiscitarianism XII. Democracy, Leadership and Culture Part Five: A Postscript XIII. The Common Good and History XIV. The State of Democracy Index P.1 Democracy As An Ethico-philosophical Problem -- P.2 The Ethical Life -- P.3 Rousseau;s General Will : Moral Fact Or Utopian Fiction -- P.4 The Ethics Of Constitutional Democracy -- P.5 A Postscript. Claes G. Ryn. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.