Democracy and Tradition (New Forum Books) (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "WALT WHITMAN held that "society, in these States, is canker'd, crude, superstitious, and rotten..." (more)
Key Phrases: modern ethical discourse, material inferential commitments, collateral commitments, Black Nationalism, United States, Jesus Christ (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Stout attempts to steer a pragmatic course between these two camps and to reframe the relationship between religion and democracy". -- B.G. Murchland, Choice

Confronts injustice with a passion born out of [Stout's] awareness that something . . . better is not only possible but already exists. -- Robin W. Lovin , The Christian Century

Offers many sophisticated and well-argued insights. . . . Its project--to reconcile democracy and religion--is both theoretically fascinating and politically urgent. -- Yaacov Ben-Shemesh , Social Theory and Practice

Review

[Stout's] vision of democracy is compelling, simultaneously inspiring and comforting. (Lauren F. Winner Books & Culture )

Confronts injustice with a passion born out of [Stout's] awareness that something . . . better is not only possible but already exists. (Robin W. Lovin The Christian Century )

[Democratic citizens] have the right to freedom of thought and expression that includes whatever religious motivations they might have. (Choice )

Offers many sophisticated and well-argued insights. . . . Its project--to reconcile democracy and religion--is both theoretically fascinating and politically urgent. (Yaacov Ben-Shemesh Social Theory and Practice )

A spirited defense of democratic values and practices in disheartening times. . . . This is a wonderful book. (Timothy A. Beach-Verhey Political Theory )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Princeton University Press (September 22, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0691102937
• ISBN-13: 978-0691102931
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,297,348 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Tradition of Democracy, October 5, 2004

By	Tedd Steele (Naperville, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Stout eloquently argues that Democracy itself, which is considered the antithesis of tradition by many, constitutes a tradition. He argues that within the history of the democratic tradition, as articulated by people like Emerson, Whitman, Dewey, and Ellison, is a set of virtues and vices that correspond to a democratic conception of character. Among the virtues it extols are piety, hope, and charity. He then forges a way between Rawls and Rorty on one side and MacIntyre and Hauerwas on the other. He vigoursly attacks Hauerwas and the other "new traditionalists" whom he says isolate themselves from the broader conversation in favor of sectarian pursuits. Finally, he articulates a way forward with ethics in a time of pluralism. Religious voices can express contasting justifiably held beliefs in common forum. Each should express their beliefs, support them with reasons, and then engage in immanent criticism of those in oposition. Steeped in pragmatism, Stout argues that ethics can be truthful without defining truth. Further, this can be done without metaphysics. What we are left with is a system that allows for truth claims, pluralism, and public debate.

As a longtime reader of Hauerwas it is somewhat painful to give this book 5 stars, but it is well deserved. Although I still have reservations about the democratic project, Stout's book was insightful. Though I found his criticism of the new traditionalists a bit strong, it definately caused me to rethink some of my positions. In the end, if one is committed to democracy but finds ethical discourse challenging, this is the way to go.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dense but very rewarding pragmatist argument for the American democratic tradition, November 8, 2006

By	Christopher Tessone (Durham, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Democracy and Tradition (New Forum Books) (Paperback)

Stout's closely-argued book argues in favor of a public sphere that includes the voices of religious people but resists efforts from Christian new traditionalists on one side and secularists on the other to reduce the conversation to a single foundation. His criticisms of MacIntyre and Hauerwas in the middle chapters are especially crucial, as those writers hold tremendous sway over certain mainline Protestants and Catholics. Stout successfully argues that it is best for Christianity to be involved in the democratic process.

I did find the final chapters (8-12) very dense and tough going. Stout warns about this in the introduction, but I still feel like he could have unpacked some of the denser sections a little bit. I am not a professional philosopher, but I'm not entirely unsophisticated, either. I still felt completely lost at a few points. In these chapters, it's also difficult at times to see the connection to the larger argument. In the conclusion, the author wraps up the threads of the three parts into a beautiful, powerful argument in the tradition of American pragmatism for an enriched democracy that draws the allegiance, participation, and criticism of a broad, diverse citizenry. Very highly recommended.