Inventing Leadership: The Challenge of DemocracyEdward Elgar Publishing, 2007 - 404 pages Tom Wren s book is a masterpiece of intellectual history. It explores the philosophical and historical foundations of democracy in a compelling way. Wren is a sparkling and graceful writer. He makes a potentially dry subject come alive with wit and insigh |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 17
Page 7
... philosopher king, or at the very least someone drawn from an aristocracy of merit. That leader will then have considerable latitude in his or her actions. In contrast, those who reject elite theories and embrace a participationist model ...
... philosopher king, or at the very least someone drawn from an aristocracy of merit. That leader will then have considerable latitude in his or her actions. In contrast, those who reject elite theories and embrace a participationist model ...
Page 17
... philosopher king should be to create a state that models the ideals of philosophy . The ultimate goal of philosophy is knowledge of the Good . The concomitant end of statesmanship ( ' politics ' ) is human well - being or happiness ...
... philosopher king should be to create a state that models the ideals of philosophy . The ultimate goal of philosophy is knowledge of the Good . The concomitant end of statesmanship ( ' politics ' ) is human well - being or happiness ...
Page 20
... philosopher is a lover of truth ... no other [ leader ] will be so ... philosophy , and the appropriate leader is the only one in society that attains this ... king . Others argue that the rule of law was simply his way of achieving his ...
... philosopher is a lover of truth ... no other [ leader ] will be so ... philosophy , and the appropriate leader is the only one in society that attains this ... king . Others argue that the rule of law was simply his way of achieving his ...
Page 21
... philosopher king with reality . It was – and remains – a challenge to any supporter of the classical ideal . Plato's somewhat stumbling attempt to address this difficult issue is an object lesson for anyone who strives to base the rule ...
... philosopher king with reality . It was – and remains – a challenge to any supporter of the classical ideal . Plato's somewhat stumbling attempt to address this difficult issue is an object lesson for anyone who strives to base the rule ...
Page 22
... philosopher king , he also recognized that current leaders fell short of the ideal . It almost went without saying that large aggregations of people could not have the requisite expertise to rule . ' If some sort of kingly expertise ...
... philosopher king , he also recognized that current leaders fell short of the ideal . It almost went without saying that large aggregations of people could not have the requisite expertise to rule . ' If some sort of kingly expertise ...
Contents
1 | |
13 | |
2 The classical ideal in republics | 46 |
3 A new conception of the people | 95 |
4 A new social relation | 131 |
5 The challenge of democracy | 147 |
6 James Madison and the classical ideal | 171 |
7 Tocqueville and the challenges of democracy | 203 |
8 Inventing liberalism | 237 |
9 Inventing communitarianism | 296 |
10 A new fi ction of leadership | 335 |
Index | 393 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
achieve acknowledged American analysis approach Aquinas argued Aristotle articulated assumptions Barber Benjamin Barber called capable century citizens civic virtue classical ideal classical republican commitment common commonwealth communitarian competence conception constitutional create debate deference democratic dilemma discourse elite emergence ends of leadership epistemology of leadership equality Federalist fiction of leadership Harrington Heifetz human Ibid implications implicit theories important individual institutions interaction Inventing issue J.G.A. Pocock James Harrington James Madison John Rawls John Stuart Mill justice king Kymlicka leaders and followers leadership relation liberty Locke Locke's Machiavelli Michael Sandel modern communitarian modern democracy moral Morgan Morone nature notion Nozick perceived philosopher philosopher king Plato popular participation popular sovereignty premises principles problem proposed question Rawls Rawls's reality regime relationship representation representatives republic response Revolution role Rousseau rule of law rulers Ruscio Sandel social contract society solutions Tocqueville Trachman traditional transformation turn tyranny virtuous leaders wisdom
Popular passages
Page 141 - Parliament is not a congress of ambassadors from different and hostile interests ; which interests each must maintain, as an agent and advocate, against other agents and advocates ; but parliament is a deliberative assembly of one nation, with one interest, that of the whole ; where, not local purposes, not local prejudices ought to guide, but the general good, resulting from the general reason of the whole.
Page 239 - ... a state of perfect freedom to order their actions and dispose of their possessions and persons as they think fit, within the bounds of the law of nature, without asking leave or depending upon the will of any other man.
Page 240 - The state of Nature has a law of Nature to govern it, which obliges every one, and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions...
Page 240 - For this labour being the unquestionable property of the labourer, no man but he can have a right to what that is once joined to, at least where there is enough and as good left in common for others.
Page 189 - A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy, or, perhaps, both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.
Page 141 - Certainly, Gentlemen, it ought to be the happiness and glory of a representative to live in the strictest union, the closest correspondence, and the most unreserved communication with his constituents.
Page 174 - To secure the public good and private rights against the danger of such a faction, and at the same time to preserve the spirit and the form of popular government, is then the great object to which our inquiries are directed.
Page 247 - ... there can be but one supreme power which is the legislative, to which all the rest are and must be subordinate, yet, the legislative being only a fiduciary power to act for certain ends, there remains still in the people a supreme power to remove or alter the legislative when they find the legislative act contrary to the trust reposed in them...
Page 173 - Complaints are everywhere heard from our most considerate and virtuous citizens, equally the friends of public and private faith, and of public and personal liberty, that our governments are too unstable, that the public good is disregarded in the conflicts of rival parties, and that measures are too often decided, not according to the rules of justice and the rights of the minor party, but by the superior force of an interested and overbearing majority.
Page 240 - A state also of equality, wherein all the power and jurisdiction is reciprocal, no one having more than another...