What can motivate citizens in divided societies to engage in free, open, and reasoned dialogue? Attempts by philosophers to answer this question focus largely on elucidating what citizens owe to one another as free and equal citizens, as members of a shared social context, or as agents who are mutually dependent on one another for our well-being. In The Deliberative Impulse: Motivating Discourse in Divided Societies, Andrew F. Smith suggests that that a better answer can be offered in terms of what we owe to our convictions. Given the defining role they play in how we live our lives and regard ourselves, among the highest-order interests that we maintain is being in a position to do right by our convictions_to abide by conscience. By developing a clear understanding of how best to act on this interest, we see that we are well served by engaging in public deliberation. Particularly for citizens in societies that are fragmented along ethnic, cultural, ideological, and religious lines, our interest in abiding by conscience should give us clear moral, epistemic, and religious incentives to deliberatively engage with allies and adversaries alike. Scholars who focus on issues in political philosophy, ethics, and political theory will value this book for how it suggests we can overcome the motivational roadblocks to active political participation and robust deliberation.
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Chapter 1 Preface Chapter 2 Chapter 1. Introduction: On the Deliberative Impulse Chapter 3 Chapter 2. In Defense of Abiding by Conscience Chapter 4 Chapter 3. Catalysts of Conflict and the Facilitation of Deliberation Chapter 5 Chapter 4. Liberty of Conscience and Discursive Control: On the Moral Incentive to Deliberate Publicly Chapter 6 Chapter 5. Doubt, Insistence, and Validation: On the Epistemic Incentives to Deliberate Publicly Chapter 7 Chapter 6. Commitment, Criticism, and Restraint: On a Religious Incentive to Deliberate Publicly Chapter 8 Epilogue
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Andrew Smith offers a propitious new way to think about the meaning and importance of living according to conscience. His book speaks to people's deepest convictions, extending an uplifting case in favor of more and better deliberation among divided citizens in pluralistic societies.
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Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780739146095
Publisert
2011-02-22
Utgiver
Vendor
Lexington Books
Vekt
467 gr
Høyde
240 mm
Bredde
163 mm
Dybde
20 mm
Aldersnivå
UP, 05
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Antall sider
190

Forfatter

Biographical note

Andrew F. Smith is assistant professor of philosophy at Drexel University.