The Constitution of Public Philosophy Toward a Synthesis of Freedom and Responsibility in Postmodern America

by Statham, Robert E., Jr.

• ISBN13: 9780761811114
• ISBN10: 0761811117
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-05-19
• Publisher: UPA

Summary

America, and the postmodern West in particular, are experiencing a moral and intellectual crisis, according to E. Robert Statham, Jr. In The Constitution of Public Philosophy, Statham argues that Walter Lippman was correct in locating this crisis in the impoverished nature of public philosophy, and he attempts to constitute a role for reason in contemporary America. Statham suggests that the negative rule of law via a written constitution requires the positive rule of reason, or political philosophy, in order to flourish. He explores the tradition of reason in postmodern America, and argues that since Plato was correct in saying that philosophers should rule if justice is to be obtained, in a constitutional order philosophers rule indirectly by teaching citizens to rule themselves. This is an important contribution to the literature on political philosophy and American constitutionalism.

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction: The Crisis of Public Philosophy	p. 1
The Constitution of the Rule of Law: Justice as the Negation of Tyranny and the Preservation of Liberty	p. 11
The Crisis of Constitutionalism: Confronting the Intellectual and Moral Malaise of Liberty Absent Responsibility	p. 25
The 'Self-Refuting' American Science of Politics: Pragmatism, Democratic Pluralism, and the Depreciation of Public Philosophy
Public Philosophy and the Indirect Rule of Philosopher Kings	p. 63
Constituting a Tradition of Reason Upon the Transcendental Standard of Nature	p. 83
Public Philosophy and Citizenship	p. 107
Public Philosophy and Public policy	p. 123
Conclusion: The Constitution of Public Philosophy	p. 139
Notes	p. 155
Index	p. 181
About the Author	p. 183
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