The Children of Light and the Children of Darkness: A

The Children of Light and the Children of Darkness: A Vindication of Democracy and a Critique of Its Traditional Defense

The Children of Light and the Children of Darkness, first published in 1944, is considered one of the most profound and relevant works by the influential theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, and certainly the fullest statement of his political philosophy. Written and first read during the prolonged, tragic world war between totalitarian and democratic forces, Niebuhrâ€™s book took up the timely question of how democracy as a political system could best be defended.
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Most proponents of democracy, Niebuhr claimed, were â€œchildren of light,â€ who had optimistic but naÃ¯ve ideas about how society could be rid of evil and governed by enlightened reason.Â They needed, he believed, to absorb some of the wisdom and strength of the â€œchildren of darkness,â€ whose ruthless cynicism and corrupt, anti-democratic politics should otherwise be repudiated.Â He argued for a prudent, liberal understanding of human society that took the measure of every groupâ€™s self-interest and was chastened by a realistic understanding of the limits of power. It is in the foreword to this book that he wrote, â€œManâ€™s capacity for justice makes democracy possible; but manâ€™s inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary.â€
This edition includes a new introduction by the theologian and Niebuhr scholar Gary Dorrien in which he elucidates the workâ€™s significance and places it firmly into the arc of Niebuhrâ€™s career.
Country USA
Brand University of Chicago Press
Manufacturer University of Chicago Press
Binding Paperback
ReleaseDate 2011-09-01
UnitCount 1
EANs 9780226584003

Country	USA
Brand	University of Chicago Press
Manufacturer	University of Chicago Press
Binding	Paperback
ReleaseDate	2011-09-01
UnitCount	1
EANs	9780226584003

The Children of Light and the Children of Darkness: A Vindication of Democracy and a Critique of Its Traditional Defense

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