{"product_id":"democratic-faith-patrick-deneen-9780691163390","title":"Democratic Faith","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe American political reformer Herbert Croly wrote, \"For better or worse, democracy cannot be disentangled from an aspiration toward human perfectibility.\" \u003ci\u003eDemocratic Faith\u003c\/i\u003e is at once a trenchant analysis and a powerful critique of this underlying assumption that informs democratic theory. Patrick Deneen argues that among democracy's most ardent supporters there is an oft-expressed belief in the need to \"transform\" human beings in order to reconcile the sometimes disappointing reality of human self-interest with the democratic ideal of selfless commitment. This \"transformative impulse\" is frequently couched in religious language, such as the need for political \"redemption.\" This is all the more striking given the frequent accompanying condemnation of traditional religious belief that informs the \"democratic faith.? \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e At the same time, because so often this democratic ideal fails to materialize, democratic faith is often subject to a particularly intense form of disappointment. A mutually reinforcing cycle of faith and disillusionment is frequently exhibited by those who profess a democratic faith--in effect imperiling democratic commitments due to the cynicism of its most fervent erstwhile supporters. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Deneen argues that democracy is ill-served by such faith. Instead, he proposes a form of \"democratic realism\" that recognizes democracy not as a regime with aspirations to perfection, but that justifies democracy as the regime most appropriate for imperfect humans. If democratic faith aspires to transformation, democratic realism insists on the central importance of humility, hope, and charity.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Patrick Deneen\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0691163391\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780691163390\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Princeton University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/03\/2014\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 388\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.31lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.21h x 6.14w x 0.86d","brand":"Patrick Deneen","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43925622128895,"sku":"9780691163390","price":34.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/products\/img_f00c4ced-d298-47ca-988a-720d66886447.jpg?v=1681078362","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/democratic-faith-patrick-deneen-9780691163390","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}