Kingwell
argues for a citizenship that is based on active participation.
He refers to watershed stories of the development of these
ideas including the death of Socrates, the thinking of Machiavelli,
the friendship of Montaigne and La Boethie and the letters between
Benjamin and Adorno. He
also discusses issues of space and time and how they influence
citizenship including interesting observations about dwelling places
and the futility of pursuing economic growth in the face of
environmental constraints.
He
ends his book trying to outline how we can embrace a new ideal which
is intimately connected to action that expresses our need to be
connected to each other and our search for justice for all.
Preface
This is a small book about a big topic: what it means to be a
citizen in a rapidly changing world.
Critical
reflection on the possibilities of political life is one of the
highest duties of humanity – that, indeed, such reflection is a
form of political action as important as any demonstration or
protest.
The
only thing more dangerous than a total lack of political argument is
political argument without awareness of its own pre-commitments.
Read More Back
to Book Reviews
|