Law, Pragmatism, and Democracy

by Richard A. Posner

Argues for a conception of the liberal state based on pragmatic theories of government, and views the actions of elected officials as guided by interests rather than by reason and the decisions of judges by discretion rather than by rules. Further argues that democracy is best viewed as a competition for power by means of regular elections. Citizens should not be expected to play a significant role in making complex public policy regarding, say, taxes or missile defense. [book cover].