Truth and Democracy
1st Edition
Published on 31. January 2012
352 pages
978-0-8122-0622-7 (ISBN)
Description
Political theorists Jeremy Elkins and Andrew Norris observe that American political culture is deeply ambivalent about truth. On the one hand, voices on both the left and right make confident appeals to the truth of claims about the status of the market in public life and the role of scientific evidence and argument in public life, human rights, and even religion. On the other hand, there is considerable anxiety that such appeals threaten individualism and political plurality. This anxiety, Elkins and Norris contend, has perhaps been greatest in the humanities and in political theory, where many have responded by either rejecting or neglecting the whole topic of truth.
The essays in this volume question whether democratic politics requires discussion of truth and, if so, how truth should matter to democratic politics. While individual essays approach the subject from different angles, the volume as a whole suggests that the character of our politics depends in part on what kinds of truthful inquiries it promotes and how it deals with various kinds of disputes about truth. The contributors to the volume, including prominent political and legal theorists, philosophers, and intellectual historians, argue that these are important political and not merely theoretical questions.
The essays in this volume question whether democratic politics requires discussion of truth and, if so, how truth should matter to democratic politics. While individual essays approach the subject from different angles, the volume as a whole suggests that the character of our politics depends in part on what kinds of truthful inquiries it promotes and how it deals with various kinds of disputes about truth. The contributors to the volume, including prominent political and legal theorists, philosophers, and intellectual historians, argue that these are important political and not merely theoretical questions.
Reviews / Votes
"A welcome contribution to the ongoing debates in political theory regarding the troubled relationship of truth and politics. The contributors to Truth and Democracy are theorists who have serious and deep concerns with the subject and are struggling mightily with the paradoxes and conundrums they are presented with." (Thomas L. Dumm, Amherst College) "Truth and Democracy explores an important set of questions: Can truth be set aside or rejected in politics? If truth is to be considered, in what way should it matter and what significance would this have for democracy? The book contains strong work by a number of prominent scholars, and the alternation between extended reflection and critical reflection makes for a stimulating dynamic of engagement." (Keith J. Bybee, Syracuse University)More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Pennsylvania
United States
Target group
College/higher education
File size
0,61 MB
ISBN-13
978-0-8122-0622-7 (9780812206227)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Jeremy Elkins | Andrew Norris
Truth and Democracy
Book
02/2012
University of Pennsylvania Press
€83.50
Shipment within 10-20 days
Persons
Jeremy Elkins is Associate Professor of Political Science and Affiliated Professor of Philosophy at Bryn Mawr College. Andrew Norris is Associate Professor of Political Science and Affiliated Professor of Philosophy at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Content
Introduction
-Jeremy Elkins and Andrew Norris
From Nobel Lecture: Art, Truth, and Politics
-Harold Pinter
PART I. OPINION AND AGREEMENT
Chapter 1. Concerning Practices of Truth
-Jeremy Elkins
Chapter 2. Truth and Politics
-Linda M. G. Zerilli
Chapter 3. Truth and Disagreement
-Robert Post
Chapter 4. Speaking Power to Truth
-Wendy Brown
PART II. AUTHORITY AND JUSTIFICATION
Chapter 5. Cynicism, Skepticism, and the Politics of Truth
-Andrew Norris
Chapter 6. Democracy as a Space of Reasons
-Michael P. Lynch
Chapter 7. Truth and Democracy: Theme and Variations
-William A. Galston
Chapter 8. On Truth and Democracy, Hermeneutic Responses
-David Couzens Hoy
Chapter 9. Too Soon for the Counterreformation
-Jane Bennett
Chapter 10. Response to Norris, Lynch, and Galston
-Martin Jay
PART III. DECISION AND DELIBERATION
Chapter 11. Democracy and the Love of Truth
-Bernard Yack
Chapter 12. J. S. Mill on Truth, Liberty, and Democracy
-Frederick Rosen
Chapter 13. Can This Marriage Be Saved? The Relationship of Democracy and Truth
-Rogers M. Smith
Chapter 14. Democratic Politics and the Lovers of Truth
-Nadia Urbinati
PART IV. TRUTH AND PUBLIC REASONS
Chapter 15. Truth and Public Reason
-Joshua Cohen
Chapter 16. The Truth in Political Liberation
-David Estlund
Chapter 17. Truth at the Door of Public Reason: Response to Cohen and Estlund
-Josiah Ober
Chapter 18. Just Gimme Some Truth: A Pragmatist Proposal
-Robert Westbrook
List of Contributors
Index
Acknowledgments
-Jeremy Elkins and Andrew Norris
From Nobel Lecture: Art, Truth, and Politics
-Harold Pinter
PART I. OPINION AND AGREEMENT
Chapter 1. Concerning Practices of Truth
-Jeremy Elkins
Chapter 2. Truth and Politics
-Linda M. G. Zerilli
Chapter 3. Truth and Disagreement
-Robert Post
Chapter 4. Speaking Power to Truth
-Wendy Brown
PART II. AUTHORITY AND JUSTIFICATION
Chapter 5. Cynicism, Skepticism, and the Politics of Truth
-Andrew Norris
Chapter 6. Democracy as a Space of Reasons
-Michael P. Lynch
Chapter 7. Truth and Democracy: Theme and Variations
-William A. Galston
Chapter 8. On Truth and Democracy, Hermeneutic Responses
-David Couzens Hoy
Chapter 9. Too Soon for the Counterreformation
-Jane Bennett
Chapter 10. Response to Norris, Lynch, and Galston
-Martin Jay
PART III. DECISION AND DELIBERATION
Chapter 11. Democracy and the Love of Truth
-Bernard Yack
Chapter 12. J. S. Mill on Truth, Liberty, and Democracy
-Frederick Rosen
Chapter 13. Can This Marriage Be Saved? The Relationship of Democracy and Truth
-Rogers M. Smith
Chapter 14. Democratic Politics and the Lovers of Truth
-Nadia Urbinati
PART IV. TRUTH AND PUBLIC REASONS
Chapter 15. Truth and Public Reason
-Joshua Cohen
Chapter 16. The Truth in Political Liberation
-David Estlund
Chapter 17. Truth at the Door of Public Reason: Response to Cohen and Estlund
-Josiah Ober
Chapter 18. Just Gimme Some Truth: A Pragmatist Proposal
-Robert Westbrook
List of Contributors
Index
Acknowledgments
