Description

A collection of essays on the core values of liberalism which challenges assumptions about liberal theory. By placing it into its original historical context, this text presents an interconnected argument meant to fundamentally change the conception of liberalism. According to Holmes, three elements of classical liberal theory are commonly used to attack contemporary liberalism as antagonistic to genuine democracy and the welfare state: constitutional constraints on majority rule; the identification of individual freedom with an absence of government involvement; and a strong emphasis on the principle of self-interest. Holmes argues that the aspirations of liberal democracy - including individual liberty, the equal dignity of citizens, and a tolerance for diversity - are best understood in relation to two central themes of classical liberal theory: the psychological motivations of individuals and the necessary constraint on individual passions provided by institutions. By restricting the arbitrary powers of government officials, Holmes states, a liberal constitution can increase the state's capacity to focus on specific problems and mobilize collective resources for common purposes.

Passions and Constraint – On the Theory of Liberal Democracy

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Paperback / softback by Stephen Holmes

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A collection of essays on the core values of liberalism which challenges assumptions about liberal theory. By placing it into... Read more

    Publisher: The University of Chicago Press
    Publication Date: 08/06/1997
    ISBN13: 9780226349695, 978-0226349695
    ISBN10: 0226349691

    Number of Pages: 352

    Non Fiction , Politics, Philosophy & Society

    Description

    A collection of essays on the core values of liberalism which challenges assumptions about liberal theory. By placing it into its original historical context, this text presents an interconnected argument meant to fundamentally change the conception of liberalism. According to Holmes, three elements of classical liberal theory are commonly used to attack contemporary liberalism as antagonistic to genuine democracy and the welfare state: constitutional constraints on majority rule; the identification of individual freedom with an absence of government involvement; and a strong emphasis on the principle of self-interest. Holmes argues that the aspirations of liberal democracy - including individual liberty, the equal dignity of citizens, and a tolerance for diversity - are best understood in relation to two central themes of classical liberal theory: the psychological motivations of individuals and the necessary constraint on individual passions provided by institutions. By restricting the arbitrary powers of government officials, Holmes states, a liberal constitution can increase the state's capacity to focus on specific problems and mobilize collective resources for common purposes.

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