Customer Reviews

The Public Philosophy

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Walter Lippmann's The Public Philosophy is as relevant today as when it was written in 1955. His assertion that the traditions and customs of civility are in decline in both America and the West is only reinforced by the growing unreason and incivility of our age.

Lippmann's belief that a role for political philosophy(ers) is of vital importance if our free and democratic institutions are to be preserved is right on the mark. The Socratic pursuit of the "examined" life is more rare today than ever. And yet, for that reason, it is all the more important.

The Public Philosophy is a "classic" and serves as a reminder that the solutions to the problems of democracy are not found in further democratization.

E. Robert Statham, Jr., Ph.D.
University of Guam, U.S.A.

Walter Lippmann was an interesting political thinker in the United States during the 20th Century. This is one of his most interesting works. And his ruminations are quite relevant today. A key point at the outset of this work (Page 19): "If I am right in what I have been saying, there has developed in this century a functional derangement of the relationship between the mass of people and the government. The people have acquired power which they are incapable of exercising and the governments--they have lost power which they must recover if they are to govern."

He notes another disjunction--between "the people" and "THE PEOPLE" (my distinction in caps). As Edmund Burke, he does not believe that the people, as in government by the people, refers just to those living. In his view, THE PEOPLE is (Page 32) ". . .a community of the entire living population, and their predecessors and successors." Applicability? In today's toxic political atmosphere, the parties are only interested in their current base and those independents whom they can claim and, perhaps, scraping away some of the other party's supporters. In the process, the past and the future are neglected (again, Burke speaks to the same issue).

Democracies need civility to function; they also need a "public philosophy," based on core values, to bind the country together and to structure political discourse. I suspect that Lippmann would be most distressed to see the partisan divide today (although this is certainly nothing new in American political history). For instance, he argues that such things as an absolute right to property is not appropriate when one has a public philosophy. There is a greater good than the right to property. That gives a taste of his views with one specific example.

It might be that many Americans would be richly rewarded by reading Lippmann's work. I surely have many questions about his argument, but the seemingly quaint arguments that he makes might lead to a more productive political process. The current "blood sport" does little good for the larger public's interest.

I feel that this book is as relevant now as it was when it was written over fifty years ago. Lippmann does a good job at looking at where American people fit into their democracy (which is more of a republic).

One of the most compelling quotes in this book is: "The best education for democracy will be the one which trains, disciplines, and teaches the least." Pg. 63

Really think about what this quote is saying, then think about people ready to kill one and other about whether Democratic is right, Republican is right, Moderate is right or even if Wookie is right. Many times in this society people shoot their mouths off about elements they have no lucid or tangible ground beneath their feet to stand on, but have plenty of room to put their feet in their mouth.

I was required to read this book in a graduate class, and I found it very interesting and thought provoking. Is this book everything one needs to know on politics, government, sociology and the human condition? No, but it is a great place to start.

Only abstract and higher-level taxonomy thinkers need to apply.

Walter Lippmann is one of my favorite non-fiction writers. He is a brilliant man, and his work has contributed greatly to the modern American political landscape. It's sad to see this book going out of print. Few tomes grant such insight into the fundamental weaknesses of democratic nations. In an age where the United States is the undisputed military power, some have confused democracy with god. It seems democracy is a word thrown around carelessly as a cure all for the world's ills. The Public Philosophy stays true to the Founding Father's fears that a democratic majority is capable of being as oppressive as a monarch. I highly recommend this book to any serious student of political science.

Walter Lippmann reacquaints us with the basics of democracy. If you are looking for "sound bites" this book isn's a good place to start. If you want to get beyond "partisian" and on to principles, this is a good place to start. I'm starting my re-read--because I don't think I could take in sufficently with a single read, for it is a rich, relevant, and thought provoking book!

First, it's pretty obvious that Noam Chomsky has made a killing skewering Lippman. Second, Lippman is a snob who thinks that elitest jerks should control the country.

Besides that, he is pretty good reading for anyone who wants to know how things are run in America. The book is full of boring BS passing for history, but when Lippman kicks in accusing the public of being ill informed and stupid, he's at his best, or worst depending on how you see things.

He's pretty much in bed with Aristotle, so if you agree with that jerk, you'll love Lippman.