Civic Liberalism - Reflections on Our Democratic Ideals (Hardcover, annotated edition)


In Civic Liberalism: Reflections on Our Democratic Ideals, prominent political theorist Thomas A. Spragens, Jr. asserts that most versions of democratic ideals libertarianism, liberal egalitarianism, difference liberalism, and the liberalism of fear lead our polity significantly astray. Spragens offers another alternative. He argues that we should recover the multiple and complex aspirations found within the tradition of democratic liberalism and integrate them into a more compelling public philosophy for our time or what he calls civic liberalism. Civic liberalism, Spragens contends, endorses both liberty and equality although neither can properly be understood as a maximizing principle. Instead, liberty should be seen as the constitutive threshold good of autonomy; and equality should be seen as a moral postulate and instrumental good. Moreover, civic liberalism explicitly embraces forms of 'fraternity, ' civic friendship, and civic virtue consistent with respect for social pluralism. Therefore, a better understanding of our democratic ideals will free us from the constrictive orthodoxies of the left and right, lead us toward better public policy, and help us become a well ordered society of flourishing, self-governing civic equals."

R4,133

Or split into 4x interest-free payments of 25% on orders over R50
Learn more

Discovery Miles41330
Mobicred@R387pm x 12* Mobicred Info
Free Delivery
Delivery AdviceShips in 10 - 15 working days


Toggle WishListAdd to wish list
Review this Item

Product Description

In Civic Liberalism: Reflections on Our Democratic Ideals, prominent political theorist Thomas A. Spragens, Jr. asserts that most versions of democratic ideals libertarianism, liberal egalitarianism, difference liberalism, and the liberalism of fear lead our polity significantly astray. Spragens offers another alternative. He argues that we should recover the multiple and complex aspirations found within the tradition of democratic liberalism and integrate them into a more compelling public philosophy for our time or what he calls civic liberalism. Civic liberalism, Spragens contends, endorses both liberty and equality although neither can properly be understood as a maximizing principle. Instead, liberty should be seen as the constitutive threshold good of autonomy; and equality should be seen as a moral postulate and instrumental good. Moreover, civic liberalism explicitly embraces forms of 'fraternity, ' civic friendship, and civic virtue consistent with respect for social pluralism. Therefore, a better understanding of our democratic ideals will free us from the constrictive orthodoxies of the left and right, lead us toward better public policy, and help us become a well ordered society of flourishing, self-governing civic equals."

Customer Reviews

No reviews or ratings yet - be the first to create one!

Product Details

General

Imprint

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Country of origin

United States

Release date

September 1999

Availability

Expected to ship within 10 - 15 working days

First published

September 1999

Authors

Dimensions

238 x 158 x 21mm (L x W x T)

Format

Hardcover

Pages

292

Edition

annotated edition

ISBN-13

978-0-8476-9610-9

Barcode

9780847696109

Categories

LSN

0-8476-9610-3



Trending On Loot