The Contribution of Jonathan Z. Smith’s Study of Religion to Democratic Politics: Religion as Thinking, Thinking as World-making

The Contribution of Jonathan Z. Smith’s Study of Religion to Democratic Politics: Religion as Thinking, Thinking as World-making

From the outset Jonathan Z. Smith has regarded his study of religion as a matter of public concern, not something separate and apart. He makes this explicit in a number of ways, but does not offer a fully-developed political theory. To make what I argue is his implicit non-sovereign political theory more fully explicit I…

Fundamental Commitment to Democracy: Virtuous Certainty, Authority, and the Moral Passion of Skepticism

Fundamental Commitment to Democracy: Virtuous Certainty, Authority, and the Moral Passion of Skepticism

By 2006, the central issues surrounding the idea of “democracy,” were front and center, raised by the Bush administration’s response to 9/11. These issues included the foundational question of government of, by, and for the people, versus authoritarianism or domination, questions of legitimacy, questions  of who are “the people,” who belongs to the body politic,…

Ways of Talking about Knowledge in NIU AE Doctoral Dissertations: Epistemology and the Future of Adult Education

1995 “Ways of Talking about Knowledge in NIU AE Doctoral Dissertations: Epistemology and the Future of Adult Education,” The Canmore Proceedings: International Conference on Educating the Adult Educator: Role of the University, 123-131. May 14-17, 1995. Michael Collins, Editor. Canmore, Alberta, Canada. Download and Read