Hermitix Democracy, Tradition, and Gadamer with Ryan R. Holston
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Aug 16, 2023 Ryan R. Holston, a Professor at Virginia Military Institute, discusses his book "Tradition and the Deliberative Turn" and offers a critique of contemporary democratic theory. They explore topics such as bridging theory and practice in political science, modernity's implications, the challenges of deliberation in a democratic society, the disintegration of tradition, and the trap of postmodern hegemony. They also discuss the influence of science and technology on society through the analysis of literary works.
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A Philosophical Roundtable Thought-Experiment
- Holston imagines a conversation between Gadamer, Plato, and Leo Strauss to test differing Platonic readings.
- He'd add Aristotle to stir the debate about forms, participation, and misreadings.
Why The Deliberative Turn Matters
- The deliberative turn rejects utility-maximizing democracy and emphasizes public justification to treat citizens as equals.
- Rawls and Habermas offer procedural and substantive strategies to secure consensus in plural modern societies.
Deliberation Needs Shared Habits
- Deliberation presupposes shared orientations and meanings that don't arise from isolated individuals.
- Holston argues community and acculturation supply the preconditions for genuine political dialogue.