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.
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Democracy and Aristocracy in J.S. Mill's Political Thought
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9781787443716
Publisert
2018
Utgave
1. utgave
Utgiver
Vendor
University of Rochester Press
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter