Abstract

John Dewey's critical political philosophy is a rich resource for thinking about politics. Dewey was responding to crises in the value of philosophy, democracy, and liberalism in early-twentieth century America similar in tone to those of our own times. He argued that political philosophy has much to offer when practiced as a means of helping people to grapple with political crises by rethinking values and ideas in light of the consequences of acting upon them under changing circumstances, as well as imagining how these circumstances might be changed to allow for the fuller realization of these values and ideas. Such a philosophy can be called a critical political philosophy. ;Dewey used this critical political philosophy to address concerns about the prospects for and value of popular self-rule in large and complex democracies like the modern United States. He was interested in vindicating popular sovereignty against elitist arguments. Appreciating the public interest in controlling the indirect consequences of social interaction encourages the recognition of multiple publics and a flexible public-private distinction, among other things. Further, if popular self-rule is to remain meaningful as both a description and central value of American politics, it is necessary to educate citizens in critical thought, improve mass communications, and democratize a variety of institutions like workplaces. ;With respect to liberalism, Dewey argued that liberal values should be understood in light of historically specific threats to freedom. In modern American society such values require defense against concentrated economic as well as political power. However, as the threats to the realization of liberal ends change so too must understandings of liberal ideals and the most effective means of achieving them. In general, although achieving liberal ends may require radical social change we should favor persuasion, education, and experimentalism over violence and coercion. ;Dewey's ideas on philosophy, democracy, and liberalism can advance debates among contemporary American critical theorists on topics including the meaning of critical theory and the public sphere