ABSTRACT
Democratic Theory as Public Philosophy challenges what have become the dominant conceptions and theories of democratic government in political debate, journalism and academic writing. The challenge is made however not by proposing a new and untried conception or theory but by returning to and building upon a now overshadowed tradition of writing on democratic government. Ideological democratic theory will mean mainly that which defines and conceives of modern democracy in formal or empirical terms as existing institutions and practices irrespective of the standards expressed in or the social effects of these institutions and procedures. A public philosophy always seeks and to be successful depends upon widespread support that approximates to unanimity; it is not, however, any kind of consensus. This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines influential formalist and ideological work which identifies democratic government with decision making procedures.
