The Inner Ocean: Individualism and Democratic Culture

What is the meaning of individualism in a modern democracy? In this rich and penetrating book, George Kateb examines the nature of individualism - the concept of self it implies, the ethic it sustains, the personal connectedness it supports, and the politics it requires. Kateb argues that democracy is founded on respect for the dignity of individuals as individuals, and that this respect transforms all human relations. Democratic individuality, in his view, is a way in which individuals whose rights are protected may dare to live their private lives and to conceive their roles as citizens. The book's ten essays explore democratic individuality in light of such topics as the power of political institutions to accommodate and express different values, the moral distinctiveness of representative democracy, the implications of the liberal social contract, and the possibility of human extinction.

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