This book argues that classical political philosophy, represented in the works of Thucydides and Plato, is an important resource for both contemporary democratic political theory and democratic citizens. By placing the Platonic dialogues and Thucydides’ History in conversation with four significant forms of modern democratic theory—the rational choice perspective, deliberative democratic theory, the interpretation of democratic culture, and postmodernism—Gerald M. Mara contends that these classical authors are not enemies of democracy. Rather than arguing for the creation of a more encompassing theoretical framework guided by classical concerns, Mara offers readings that emphasize the need to focus critically on the purposes of politics, and therefore of democracy, as controversial yet unavoidable questions for political theory.
Table of Content
Acknowledgments1. Political Space and Political Purpose in Contemporary Democratic Theory
2. The Borders of Rational Choice
3. Deliberating Democracy
4. Culture’s Justice
5. Proximate Others
6. Conclusion: Extending the Limits of Democracy
Notes
References
Index
About the author
Gerald M. Mara is Executive Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and Professorial Lecturer in Government at Georgetown University and the author ofSocrates’ Discursive Democracy: Logos and Ergon in Platonic Political Philosophy, also published by SUNY Press.
Buy this ebook and get 1 more FREE!
Language English ● Format PDF ● Pages 338 ● ISBN 9780791477991 ● File size 1.5 MB ● Publisher State University of New York Press ● Published 2008 ● Downloadable 24 months ● Currency EUR ● ID 7664489 ● Copy protection Adobe DRM
Requires a DRM capable ebook reader