Educating Liberty
Regular price
€92.99
A01=Chris Barker
Aristocracy
Author_Chris Barker
Category=JPA
Civic Education
Democracy
eq_bestseller
eq_isMigrated=1
eq_nobargain
eq_non-fiction
eq_society-politics
Individual Independence
J.S. Mill
Liberty
Political Power
Political Thinker
Tyranny of the Majority
Product details
- ISBN 9781580469227
- Weight: 550g
- Dimensions: 152 x 229mm
- Publication Date: 15 Nov 2018
- Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd
- Publication City/Country: US
- Product Form: Hardback
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A comprehensive study of Mill's theory of liberty, uncovering Mill's solution to the problem of democracy, the tyranny of the majority
Alexis de Tocqueville famously identified the problem of democracy as the "tyranny of the majority," where the rule of the majority oppresses or marginalizes minorities and individuals. John Stuart Mill, perhaps more than any other liberal thinker, attempted to find a solution to this problem. In this study of Mill's political theory, Chris Barker shows how Mill's civic education transforms individuals into citizens who are free to form opinions, analyze arguments, and wield a power capable of moderating the irresponsible power of the ruling majority. Barker examines Mill's thought as it is applied to five prominent components of democratic life-marriage, economic participation, scientific expertise, representative politics, and religion-with particular emphasis on gender and economic reform. Barker concludes that Mill's interpretation of liberty is not well described as either negative or positive. Instead, liberty consists in the mental independence or thinking power of the educated individuals composing and challenging majorities.
CHRIS BARKER is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the American University in Cairo.
