Law, Pragmatism, and Democracy
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Published: March 31, 2003
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 416
ISBN-13: 9780674010819
Subjects: Foundations of law; Laws of Other Jurisdictions & General Law; Political structures: democracy; Political Science; Political Ideologies - Democracy; Justice, Administration of; Politics / Current Events; United States; Law; USA; History & Theory - General; Legal System; Law / General; General; Democracy; Pragmatism; Rule of law
Description: Argues for a conception of the liberal state based on pragmatic theories of government, and views the actions of elected officials as guided by interests rather than by reason and the decisions of judges by discretion rather than by rules. Further argues that democracy is best viewed as a competition for power by means of regular elections. Citizens should not be expected to play a significant role in making complex public policy regarding, say, taxes or missile defense. [book cover].