In Philadelphia, at the recently opened Museum of the American Revolution, there is an exhibit that proclaims “a republic means the well-being of everyone.” Surrounded by artifacts, both physical and theoretical, from the American war for independence, this statement stands out. If republican government ensures the well-being of everyone, was the United States a republic […]
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The Pursuit of Thoughtfulness
Socrates recognizes the capacity for dialogue with oneself—or, thoughtfulness—as essential for democratic citizenship. George Orwell, in his essay “Politics and the English Language,” also explores the relationship between thought and language: “If thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.” Together, Orwell and Socrates invite readers today to consider thoughtfulness, rooted in robust ethical language, […]
Book Review: “Democracy in Decline?” by Aric Gooch
Democracy In Decline? is a collection of works from the 25th Anniversary edition of the Journal of Democracy, discussing the possible global decline of democracy. Larry Diamond and Marc Plattner bring together a wide range of theoretical arguments, prompting readers to question each author’s perspective on the topic. The succinct, broad-strokes chapters situate this book […]
Tocqueville and Separation of Church and State: A Critique
While Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America (1835) has undeniably contributed to a robust understanding of American culture, his description of American political principles misinterprets the origins of the separation of church and state. Tocqueville focuses on Puritan influence on American political thought, concluding that Puritans’ love of liberty inspired American religious liberty and American […]
Art and the Politics of Nature
Landscape is destiny. The Genesee River, for example, flows north from Pennsylvania through the Allegheny Plateau, falling about 14 feet for every one of its 160 miles. The cracks and fissures in the earth’s crust—scars of millions of years and recent glaciation—buckle and warp the land we see today, leaving spectacular waterfalls that dot the river’s […]
