GUIDE TO THE PHILOSOPHY 1938 - 1947.pdf - Rare Books at ...

CHAPTER XIX: THEORY OF
DEMOCRACY
Introductory. The criticisms of democracy whether
implied or expressed in Chapters XVI and XVII amount
in sum to a formidable indictment In this chapter I
propose to consider what may 'be said in democracy's
defence. The task is not an easy one. When he comes to
defend his belief, the advocate of democracy finds himself
at a disadvantage. Whereas authoritarian doctrines of the
State are clear-cut, definite and systematic, the theory of
democracy is vague, tentative and fragmentary. Indeed,
it is not a theory at all so much as a number of principles,
each of which the democrat takes to be true, but which
he would be hard put to it to substantiate. He believes in
individual freedom and self-development; he believes that
the State was made for man and not man for the State,
and he has an instinctive distrust of the State. If, however,
he is asked for a theory of the State, it is feeling rather than
reason that is apt to reply. And his feeling is that the
beginning and end of the State's function is to give individuals
the equipment, the scope and the leisure to develop
the best that is in them. The democrat does not, at any
rate in the twentieth century, regard democracy as an
ideal form of government, but as the least objectionable
form of government that is practicable. It is not a best so
much as a second-best, embraced because of the frailties
of human nature and accepted less for its own merits than
for fear that worse may befall, if it be rejected. Thus no
systematic defence of democracy is possible, for the reason
that democracy is not itself the product of a systematic
theory.
For the fragmentary nature of the contents of this
chapter I make no apology. Bearing in mind Aristotle's