American Ideology (Paperback)  | Released: 01 Jun 2004

The American Ideology explicates and criticizes two notions of reason in society: efficiency and the concept of the reasonable. Despite their considerable appeal, these notions nowadays underwrite an orientation towards public policy that is both inadequate and beneficial to elite interests; an orientation that constitutes a distinct American Ideology. To make this case, Levine traces the history of the concept of efficiency, from Hobbes, through the utilitarian tradition, to contemporary economic and philosophical paradigms; and examines the strengths and weaknesses of the democratic theory implicit in John Rawls's pioneering work on justice and political legitimacy.About the Author: Andrew Levine is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He is the author of many books, including Engaging Political Philosophy (2001) and AFuture for Marxism? (2003).