Legitimacy - The Right to Rule in a Wanton World

What makes a government legitimate? Arthur Isak Applbaum rigorously argues that the greatest threat to democracies today is not loss of basic rights or despotism. It is the tyranny of unreason: domination of citizens by incoherent, inconstant, incontinent rulers. A government that cannot govern itself cannot legitimately govern others.

About the author

Arthur Isak Applbaum is Adams Professor of Democratic Values at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, where he chairs the Democracy, Politics, and Institutions faculty. He also directs the undergraduate fellowship program of Harvard’s Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics. Applbaum is the author of Ethics for Adversaries, an appraisal of the morality of roles in public and professional life. His next book will be a work of philosophical fiction for young adults.

Summary

What makes a government legitimate? Arthur Isak Applbaum rigorously argues that the greatest threat to democracies today is not loss of basic rights or despotism. It is the tyranny of unreason: domination of citizens by incoherent, inconstant, incontinent rulers. A government that cannot govern itself cannot legitimately govern others.

Product details

• Authors: Arthur Isak Applbaum, Applbaum Arthur Isak
• Publisher: Harvard University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.10.2019
• EAN: 9780674983465
• ISBN: 978-0-674-98346-5
• No. of pages: 304
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Philosophy > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Miscellaneous; PHILOSOPHY / Social, PHILOSOPHY / Political, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Process / General, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Civics & Citizenship, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Ideologies / Democracy, POLITICAL SCIENCE / History & Theory, LAW / Government / General, political, Social & political philosophy, Political science & theory, social and political philosophy, Political structures: democracy, Political science and theory, Civil rights & citizenship, Government powers, Civics and citizenship