What is it about?
This piece explores the costs of participating in the turbulent democratic public sphere in 19th century America (e.g., pressure to flatter; reputational risks). The democratic gentleman--an attempt to combine aristocratic moderation and noblesse oblige with respect for democratic freedom and equality--is the focus of the paper.
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Why is it important?
This anticipates my later piece on parrhesia (Foucault) to show that a social duty to speak is not without costs, but feeling the weight of that duty helps to organize and elevate the public sphere.
Perspectives
Some people have read this paper for guidance in the age of Trump!
Dr Christopher Barker
Southwestern College
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Demagoguery and Mental Independence in James Fenimore Cooper’s Political Writings, American Political Thought, September 2015, University of Chicago Press,
DOI: 10.1086/683201.
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