Reason, Religion, and Democracy

Häftad, Engelska, 2009

Av Dennis C. Mueller, Austria) Mueller, Dennis C. (Universitat Wien, Dennis C Mueller

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This book also emphasizes the difference between religion and science as means for understanding causal relationships, but it focuses much more heavily on the challenge religious extremism poses for liberal democratic institutions. The treatment contains a discussion of human psychology, describes the salient characteristics of all religions, and contrasts religion and science as systems of thought. Historical sketches are used to establish a link between modernity and the use of the human capacity for reasoning to advance human welfare. The book describes the conditions under which democratic institutions can advance human welfare, and the nature of constitutional rights as protectors of individual freedoms. Extremist religions are shown to pose a threat to liberal democracy, a threat that has implications for immigration and education policies and the definition of citizenship.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum2009-08-17
Mått152 x 230 x 24 mm
Vikt620 g
FormatHäftad
SpråkEngelska
Antal sidor460
FörlagCambridge University Press
ISBN9780521132732

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Dennis C. Mueller is professor emeritus of economics at the University of Vienna. His main research interests are public choice, industrial economics, and constitutional political economy. He is the author of many articles and several books, including Public Choice III (Cambridge University Press, 2003), The Corporation (2003), and Constitutional Democracy (1996). Mueller is a past president of the U.S. and European Public Choice Societies, the Southern Economic Association, the Industrial Organization Society, the European Association for Research in Industrial Economics, and the International Joseph A. Schumpeter Society.

1. Liberal democracy; Part I. Fundamentals: Evolution, Psychology, Reasoning and Religion: 2. Evolution, psychology and reason; 3. Religion; Part II. An Historical Look at the State, Democracy and Religion: 4. The first states; 5. Athens and Rome; 6. The Caliphate; 7. The Renaissance; 8. The Enlightenment; 9. Religion and democracy after the French revolution; Part III. The Institutions of Liberal Democracy: 10. Democracy and citizenship; 11. Rights; 12. Education, citizenship, immigration and democracy; Part IV. Challenges to Liberal Democracy: 13. Democracy and religion; 14. Building and protecting Liberal democracy.

'Mueller's new book tackles a very large question and approaches it with a very broad, but very fine brush. The first half of the book provides a biological explanation for the origin of both reason and religion and explores how reason and religion have affected the development of civilization and have, in turn, been affected by those civilizations. The second half of the book links religion and rationality to issues in contemporary politics. It focuses on such issues as the relationship between education, religion, and democracy; the effects of emigration; and constitutional design. I am impressed by the book and with the project itself. I found myself broadly sympathetic with the book's arguments and conclusions, and even where I disagree, the arguments are interesting and provocative.' Roger Congleton, George Mason University