ACCT 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 31: Active Citizenship, Judiciary, Alexis De Tocqueville
3 Jul 2020
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Disclaimer: my (historical-philosophical) analysis not the only possible one, no claim of objectivity but based on selection and interpretation, guided by particular questions. And today"s relevance: crisis of democracy? (populism, illiberal" democracy) Greek roots: demos = people, kratos = governing power, kratein = to rule. Related concepts: polis = city-state politics, citizen = resident of polis who is politically involved on the basis of rights and obligations. Crux of my analysis: fundamental tension in modern democracy between individual autonomy and freedom versus public commitment, the responsibility towards the community. Connected to immanuel kant"s view of the emancipatory potential of the enlightenment fuelling modern democracy. An answer to the question: what is enlightenment" (1784): Enlightenment is mankind"s exit from its self-incurred immaturity. Immaturity is the inability to make use of one"s own understanding without the guidance of another. [ ] have the courage to use your own understanding!
