Walter Lippmann, John Dewey, and American Political Democracy Jesse B. Markay Skidmore College

This paper is published for free by Creative Matter's Student Scholarship. It has been approved as a master's degree in general education (MALS) by the authorized administrator of Creative Matter. For details, please contact kfrederi @ skidmore.edu.

Markay, Jesse B., "Walter Lippmann, John Dewey, and American Political Democracy" (2007). Master of Arts in General Education (MALS). Paper 43

Respect for authority ... By the beginning of the nineteenth century America was becoming most equal, material, and individualist

Western society In many ways, this new democratic society is opposite to what the revolutionary leaders imagined.

1 Gordon S. Wood, radicalism of the American Revolution (New York: Vintage Books, 1991), 229 - 30. 2 Alan Ryan, John Dewy and the climax of American liberalism (New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1995), 159. John Patrick Diggins, "From Practicalism to Natural Law: Pursuit of the Foundation of Validity by Walter Tripman", Political Theory 19, 4 (1991): 533

In the 1920s America, political analyst Walter Lipman and philosopher John Dewey discussed the role of journalism in democracy, as the newspaper abandoned the open party relationship seeking new subscribers. . Their different philosophies remain a feature of ongoing debate about the role of journalism in society. Lippman's view has been going on for decades and it helped to strengthen the progressive people's trust in professional decision-making and public support. Lippman believes that strong journalism is wasted by the public, but for elite managers and experts, this is truly worthwhile. Meanwhile, Dewey not only believes that the general public can understand the problems created or answered by the elite, but also believes that the public forum should make decisions after discussion and discussion. When problems are thoroughly considered, the best ideas emerge.

In the 1920s, philosopher John Dewey (1859-1952) and Lippmann made a big debate about the influence of technology on democracy. Both sides believe that the telecommunications revolution created a large and complex world Political and social institutions have not kept pace with technological change, people are more vulnerable to propaganda, modernity is democracy Threatening. Especially if we can save democracy, their criticism is divided into solutions. Lippman believes that masses are irreparable and subject to large-scale operations, but Dewey thinks that many citizen participation is necessary due to social and political problems.