Race, Justice and American Intellectual Traditions

Some American intellectual traditions, although pristine in appearance, are racist at their core. This book reveals the racism inherent in those Platonist and Enlightenment moral traditions that motivate much contemporary rhetoric. Part One contains five chapters of substantial critique, while Part Two contains four chapters of constructive suggestion explaining how indigenous American traditions of thought about morality avoid the racism of conventional Western moral thought that dominates political rhetoric. This book, because of its focus, thesis, and brevity, will be useful in a number of academic contexts, including political science, American studies, philosophy, sociology, and also to the larger educated public.

Makes the case that that Western intellectual culture, especially in the American social world, is thoroughly racist. Examines prominent Western intellectuals, including John Stuart Mill, Milton Friedman, and John Rawls, and exhibits the racism inherent in their thought. Explains that such racism does not appear in prominent, more indigenous American thinkers, including W.E.B Dubois, John Dewey, and Ta-Nehisi Coates among others.

Autorentext

Stuart Rosenbaum is Professor of Philosophy at Baylor University, USA. He has previously authored the titles Pragmatism and the Reflective Life (2009) and Recovering Integrity (2015), in addition to various edited volumes and journal articles over many years.

Inhalt

1. Prologue.- 2. Our Issues with Race.- 3. Western Justice.- 4. John Stuart Mill and the Liberal Tradition.- 5. Milton Friedman, American Economist and Liberal (1912-2006).- 6. John Rawls, American Philosopher (1921-2002).- 7. Retrospect and More.- 8. Michael Sandel's Insight.- 9. W.E.B. DuBois and John Dewey.- 10. Some Contemporaries.- 11. Our Future.