The Concept of Democracy
If we don’t know what the words “democracy” and “democratic” mean, then we don’t know what democracy is. This book defends a radical view: these words mean nothing and should be abandoned. The argument for abolitionism is simple: those terms are defective and we can easily do better, so let’s get ri...
Wedi'i Gadw mewn:
| Prif Awdur: | |
|---|---|
| Fformat: | Online |
| Iaith: | Saesneg |
| Cyhoeddwyd: |
Oxford University Press
2023
|
| Pynciau: | |
| Mynediad Ar-lein: | OCN: 1393139105 |
| Tagiau: |
Dim Tagiau, Byddwch y cyntaf i dagio'r cofnod hwn!
|
| _version_ | 1869515393634140160 |
|---|---|
| author | Cappelen, Herman |
| author_browse | Cappelen, Herman |
| author_facet | Cappelen, Herman |
| author_sort | Cappelen, Herman |
| collection | Directory of Open Access Books |
| description | If we don’t know what the words “democracy” and “democratic” mean, then we don’t know what democracy is. This book defends a radical view: these words mean nothing and should be abandoned. The argument for abolitionism is simple: those terms are defective and we can easily do better, so let’s get rid of them. According to the abolitionist, the switch to alternative devices would be a significant communicative, cognitive, and political advance. The first part of the book presents a general theory of abandonment: the conditions under which language should be abandoned. The rest of the book applies this general theory to the case of “democracy” and “democratic”. The book shows that “democracy” and “democratic” are semantically, pragmatically, and communicatively defective. Abolitionism is not all gloom and doom. It also contains a message of good cheer: we have easy access to conceptual devices that are more effective than “democracy”. We can do better. These alternative linguistic devices will enable us to ask better questions, provide genuinely fruitful answers, and have more rational discussions. Moreover, those questions and answers better articulate the communicative and cognitive aims of those who use empty terms such as “democracy” and “democratic”. |
| format | Online |
| id | doab-20.500.12854ir-122408 |
| institution | Directory of Open Access Books |
| language | eng |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| publishDateRange | 2023 |
| publishDateSort | 2023 |
| publisher | Oxford University Press |
| publisherStr | Oxford University Press |
| record_format | ojs |
| spelling | doab-20.500.12854ir-1224082025-03-24T11:40:42Z The Concept of Democracy Cappelen, Herman conceptual engineering, conceptual abandonment, democracy, democratic, communication, verbal disputes, abolitionism If we don’t know what the words “democracy” and “democratic” mean, then we don’t know what democracy is. This book defends a radical view: these words mean nothing and should be abandoned. The argument for abolitionism is simple: those terms are defective and we can easily do better, so let’s get rid of them. According to the abolitionist, the switch to alternative devices would be a significant communicative, cognitive, and political advance. The first part of the book presents a general theory of abandonment: the conditions under which language should be abandoned. The rest of the book applies this general theory to the case of “democracy” and “democratic”. The book shows that “democracy” and “democratic” are semantically, pragmatically, and communicatively defective. Abolitionism is not all gloom and doom. It also contains a message of good cheer: we have easy access to conceptual devices that are more effective than “democracy”. We can do better. These alternative linguistic devices will enable us to ask better questions, provide genuinely fruitful answers, and have more rational discussions. Moreover, those questions and answers better articulate the communicative and cognitive aims of those who use empty terms such as “democracy” and “democratic”. 2023-11-17T10:21:37Z 2023-11-17T10:21:37Z 2023-09-07T12:17:23Z 2023 book OCN: 1393139105 https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/76163 https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/122408 eng open access image/jpeg image/jpeg image/jpeg Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/20.500.12657/76163/1/9780198886518.pdf https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/20.500.12657/76163/1/9780198886518.pdf https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/20.500.12657/76163/1/9780198886518.pdf Oxford University Press 10.1093/oso/9780198886518.001.0001 10.1093/oso/9780198886518.001.0001 db4e319f-ca9f-449a-bcf2-37d7c6f885b1 244 Oxford open access |
| spellingShingle | conceptual engineering, conceptual abandonment, democracy, democratic, communication, verbal disputes, abolitionism Cappelen, Herman The Concept of Democracy |
| title | The Concept of Democracy |
| title_full | The Concept of Democracy |
| title_fullStr | The Concept of Democracy |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Concept of Democracy |
| title_short | The Concept of Democracy |
| title_sort | concept of democracy |
| topic | conceptual engineering, conceptual abandonment, democracy, democratic, communication, verbal disputes, abolitionism |
| topic_facet | conceptual engineering, conceptual abandonment, democracy, democratic, communication, verbal disputes, abolitionism |
| url | OCN: 1393139105 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT cappelenherman theconceptofdemocracy AT cappelenherman conceptofdemocracy |