Democracy and Moral Conflict
Cambridge University Press, 9/10/2009
EAN 9780521513548, ISBN10: 0521513545
Hardcover, 216 pages, 22.9 x 15.2 x 1.6 cm
Language: English
Why democracy? Most often this question is met with an appeal to some decidedly moral value, such as equality, liberty, dignity or even peace. But in contemporary democratic societies, there is deep disagreement and conflict about the precise nature and relative worth of these values. And when democracy votes, some of those who lose will see the prevailing outcome as not merely disappointing, but morally intolerable. How should citizens react when confronted with a democratic result that they regard as intolerable? Should they revolt, or instead pursue democratic means of social change? In this book, Robert Talisse argues that each of us has reasons to uphold democracy - even when it makes serious moral errors - and that these reasons are rooted in our most fundamental epistemic commitments. His original and compelling study will be of interest to a wide range of readers in political philosophy and political theory.
Introduction
1. The problem of deep politics
2. Against the politics of omission
3. Folk epistemology
4. Justifying democracy
5. Epistemic perfectionism
Works cited.
Review of the hardback: 'Talisse sees profound moral and religious conflict in our political life that threatens democracy, and makes impossible effective defenses by appeal to shared values. He advances an important alternative: our common commitment to sound beliefs should lead us all to endorse democratic politics. This is a fine work of public philosophy in the tradition of J. S. Mill and John Dewey.' Gerald Gaus, University of Arizona