In the Beginning Was the Deed
Realism and Moralism in Political Argument
Chapter One
REALISM AND MORALISM IN POLITICAL THEORY
TWO MODELS OF POLITICAL THEORY
I start with two rough models of political theory (or philosophy: the
distinction is not important here) with respect to the relation of
morality to political practice. One is an enactment model. The model is
that political theory formulates principles, concepts, ideals, and values;
and politics (so far as it does what the theory wants) seeks to express
these in political action, through persuasion, the use of power, and so
forth. This is not necessarily (although it is usually) a distinction
between persons. Moreover, there is an intermediate activity which can be
shared by both parties: this shapes particular conceptions of the
principles and values in the light of the circumstances, and devises
programmes that might express those conceptions.
The paradigm of a theory that implies the enactment model is
Utilitarianism. Unless it takes its discredited Invisible Hand form (under
which there i ... read full excerpt from In the Beginning Was the Deed: Realism and Moralism in Political Argument ebook
