Title: Democracy and the ethical life : a philosophy of politics and community /
Authors: Ryn, Claes G., 1943-
Publisher: Louisiana State University Press,
Year: 1978
Subjects: Political ethics; Democracy; Representative government and representation
Contents: I. Democracy as an ethico-philosophical problem : Democracy and man's moral predicament : Democracy as a way of life ; Morality and self-interest -- Human experience and the "scientific method" : Self-awareness ; The human frame of reference -- II. The ethical life : The duality of human nature : The logic of participation ; The higher and the lower self ; Ethical conscience as censure and purpose ; The paradox of moral freedom ; Morality as happiness -- The ethics of community : The ethical life and tradition -- III. Rousseau's general will: moral fact or utopian fiction? : The political moralism of Rousseau : Rousseau the man and the thinker -- The rebirth of nature : Equality or slavery ; Social freedom -- The general will : The general will and representation ; The rejection of constitutionalism ; The spontaneity of the moral will ; The unity of the state ; Nationalism and military virtue -- Utopian dreams and harsh realities -- IV. The ethics of constitutional democracy : Constitutionalism and popular sovereignty : The American constitution ; The idea of popular sovereignty -- The spirit of constitutionalism -- Constitutionalism versus Plebiscitarianism : Decentralization ; "Democratization" -- Democracy, leadership, and culture.