Christopher Beem

Democratic Humility (eBook, ePUB)

Reinhold Niebuhr, Neuroscience, and America's Political Crisis

• Format: ePub

Produktbeschreibung

American politics is in a state of crisis but it is not clear why. Nor do we know what to do about it. Reinhold Niebuhr helps us understand what is wrong with our politics and research into the workings of the brain confirms his analysis. Call it sin or motivated reasoning and confirmation bias, the bottom line is that all of us are what Niebuhr calls "Children of Light." We are all vain and self-righteous about our beliefs and values, and far too quick to reject any information that goes against them. The unprecedented rise of talk radio and cable news helps to account for why things are so bad. We all want to hear that our group is smarter and more moral than others. To restore a democracy that functions, we need to understand ourselves better and develop the humility that such knowledge should engender.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Bloomsbury eBooks US
• Seitenzahl: 200
• Erscheinungstermin: 9. Juni 2015
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9781498511438
• Artikelnr.: 43081292

Autorenporträt

Christopher Beem received his PhD from the University of Chicago Divinity School.

Inhaltsangabe

Chapter 1: Moderating our Pretensions: Niebuhr on Being Human Chapter 2:
Between Sentimentality and Pessimism: Niebuhr on Democracy Chapter 3:
Neuroscientists for Niebuhr Chapter 4: Rattlers and Eagles/Democrats and
Republicans Chapter 5: Partisan Infotainment: A New Business Model for the
New Media Chapter 6: Partisan Infotainment and Democracy: Not All Bad, Not
Half Good Chapter 7: Weapons and Instruments: Using Government to Fix
Government Chapter 8: Religion: "a constant fount of humility" Chapter 9:
"Guardians of Democracy": Democratic Humility through Civic Education
Conclusion: Democratic Humility