Democracy, Tradition, and Gadamer with Ryan R. Holston
Aug 16, 2023
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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.
Contemporary democratic theory emphasizes deliberation and consensus-building as the basis for democracy, moving away from utilitarian justifications.
Restoring community within the modern world requires a strategic approach that engages with both tradition and modernity.
Tradition plays a crucial role in political discourse, and a nuanced understanding balances the insights of tradition with the demands of the modern world.
Deep dives
The Deliberative Turn in Democratic Theory
The podcast episode explores the concept of the deliberative turn in democratic theory. It discusses how contemporary democratic theorists have moved away from utilitarian justifications for democracy and towards an emphasis on deliberation and consensus-building. The episode highlights two main strategies within deliberative democracy: procedural approaches that focus on creating fair deliberative processes, and substantive approaches that seek to establish an overlapping consensus on moral principles. The episode acknowledges the challenges of reconciling individual autonomy and the need for a shared moral foundation in political deliberation. It also questions the assumption that individuals are inherently oriented towards deliberation and explores how tradition and community play a vital role in shaping values and meanings in political discussions.
Challenging Romanticism and Ultratopianism
The podcast episode critiques the romantic and ultratopian tendencies within conservative and modern democratic thought. It argues against the escapist approach of completely withdrawing from the modern world and embracing traditional communities, as well as the utopian belief that individual autonomy is the ultimate value. Instead, it suggests a more creative and strategic approach to restoring community within the modern world. The episode highlights examples such as online meetings and collaborations as ways to build and maintain community despite the challenges of social fracturing caused by modernity. It advocates for a nuanced perspective that recognizes the value of tradition while engaging with the modern world and its complexities.
Revisiting Plato and Tradition
The episode mentions the different interpretations of Plato and the significance of tradition in political discourse. It explores the contrast between a more abstract rationalist reading of Plato and a reinterpretation that emphasizes the embodiment and concrete experiences of individuals. The episode highlights the importance of tradition as the foundation for understanding and meaningful political deliberation. It questions the assumption that a return to traditional communities is the only way to reconnect with tradition and calls for a more nuanced approach that acknowledges the continuum between tradition and modernity. By merging the insights of tradition and the demands of the modern world, it argues for a more holistic and practical understanding of political thought and action.
The Importance of Tradition and Community
The podcast explores the significance of tradition and community in modern society. It discusses how communities have a past and the importance of intergenerational connections. The speaker argues that traditional values, such as kindness, courage, and compassion, are still considered important in the secular and increasingly secular world, despite contradicting modern individualistic values. The podcast highlights the need to reconnect with rootedness and emphasizes the value of concrete communities that exist over time. The rehabilitation of tradition involves viewing the past as part of an ongoing conversation and finding practical ways to apply traditional community in the present.
Gadamer's Approach to Rehabilitating Tradition
The podcast delves into Gadamer's ideas on the rehabilitation of tradition and the role of the thinking subject. Gadamer suggests that the approach to reading texts by lawyers and religious professionals serves as a metaphor for how tradition can be rehabilitated. They do not aim to recreate the past, but instead, they consider how texts can be applied to present circumstances. This application-oriented perspective allows for a delicate balance between the past and the present. The podcast also explores Gadamer's belief that truth emerges in the meeting ground between past and present, through ongoing conversations and a dialectic between horizons of understanding.
Ryan R. Holston is Professor and holder of the Jonathan Myrick Daniels ’61 Chair for Academic Excellence at Virginia Military Institute. In this episode we discuss his book Tradition and the Deliberative Turn: A Critique of Contemporary Democratic Theory.
Book link: https://sunypress.edu/Books/T/Tradition-and-the-Deliberative-Turn
