Suchergebnisse

Dominique Schnapper restitue de manière originale l'histoire de la sociologie. Elle montre que celle-ci se structure autour de styles nationaux qui n'ont ni la même origine ni les mêmes objets premiers, par exemple Durkheim et le défi de l'intégration républicaine ; Max Weber et l'interaction des hommes en société ou en communauté ; la sociologie anglaise et l'héritage de l'Empire ; ou bien encore l'école de Chicago et l'obsession de la ségrégation des Noirs. Elle définit enfin la nature de la sociologie, cet effort de connaissance rationnelle de l'ordre social qui universalise par principe des données objectives toujours particulières. Aujourd'hui les passions sont fortes qui opposent les « universalistes » et les « identitaires » sur les manquements des démocraties à leurs propres valeurs. Comment la connaissance sociologique permet-elle de comprendre les écarts entre les principes proclamés et la réalité des discriminations et des marginalités ? Faut-il penser qu'elles sont les effets de l'ordre démocratique lui-même ou, au contraire, de ses vertus et de ses inévitables limites ?

In this major new work, Dominique Schnapper continues her investigation into changes in contemporary democracy. Although she concentrates on the French example, The Democratic Spirit of Law concerns all democratic societies. Schnapper warns against the danger of corrupting the "principles," as defined by Montesquieu, on which democracy is based. If democracy becomes "extreme," all its founding principles risk being corrupted. Respect for institutions is necessary for freedom to be effective. Furthermore, if democrats cease to distinguish between facts and values, religion and politics, politics and the judiciary, knowledge and opinion, and knowledge and intuition, they will sink into absolute relativism or a nihiilism that threatens the very values on which democratic society is based. By pointing out the danger of corruption inherent in the democratic promise of freedom, equality, and happiness, the author provides intellectual weapons not only to understand, but also to defend democracy, the only system in history, despite its limits and failures, that has humanely organized human societies. Democracy's future depend on citizens' preservation of the founding spirit of the democratic order: recognition of others, and free, reasonable, and controlled criticism of legitimate institutions. -- from back cover

"In this major new work, Dominique Schnapper continues her investigation into changes in contemporary democracy. Although she concentrates on the French example, The Democratic Spirit of Law concerns all democratic societies.Schnapper warns against the danger of corrupting the "principles," as defined by Montesquieu, on which democracy is based. If democracy becomes "extreme," all its founding principles risk being corrupted. Respect for institutions is necessary for freedom to be effective. Furthermore, if democrats cease to distinguish between facts and values, religion and politics, politics and the judiciary, knowledge and opinion, and knowledge and intuition, they will sink into absolute relativism or a nihilism that threatens the very values on which democratic society is based.By pointing out the danger of corruption inherent in the democratic promise of freedom, equality, and happiness, the author provides intellectual weapons not only to understand, but also to defend democracy, the only system in history, despite its limits and failures, that has humanely organized human societies. Democracy's future depends on citizens' preservation of the founding spirit of the democratic order: recognition of others, and free, reasonable, and controlled criticism of legitimate institutions."--Provided by publisher.