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Self-Contradictions and Morality: A Natural Law Critique of Deliberative Democracy

Sidwell, Robert William

Abstract Details

2007, Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, Political Science (Arts and Sciences).
Should democracy itself be a value worth striving for? If so, should it take precedence over other values? Is it possible to “add” democracy to a list of these other valuables and treat them all as equally good? Finally, how did the Framers of the United States Constitution view democracy, and why? This thesis seeks to answer these questions. It argues that theories of natural law, not deliberative or direct democracy, offer a level of theoretical precision and protection for human rights and freedoms that democracy cannot be safely trusted to do if it is without the guidance of such a law. This thesis utilizes such natural law theories as those of St. Thomas Aquinas and John Locke to critique deliberative democratic theories, and concludes that democracy has been seen as usually good, but never as an end-in-itself, and thus only as an instrumental end for fulfilling some other good.
Julie White (Advisor)
149 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Sidwell, R. W. (2007). Self-Contradictions and Morality: A Natural Law Critique of Deliberative Democracy [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1180728105

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Sidwell, Robert. Self-Contradictions and Morality: A Natural Law Critique of Deliberative Democracy. 2007. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1180728105.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Sidwell, Robert. "Self-Contradictions and Morality: A Natural Law Critique of Deliberative Democracy." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1180728105

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)