Abstract

A critical discussion of the consequences for a democratic society of some contemporary philosophical positions. Traditional empiricism, the author holds, can consistently lead only to a politics of force; neo-Thomism leads to a special sort of democracy which, from the outside, is totalitarian; and no protestant philosophy since the idealisms of Royce and Hocking has been consistent. The correct philosophical basis for democracy it is argued, is provided by instrumentalism. The book's conclusions seem, at best, rather inconclusively established; for example, in discussing empirical defenses of the democratic ideal it omits any reference to the work of J. S. Mill.--D. S.