Russell Muirhead, "Apolitical Animals: From Machiavelli to Morris Fiorina

Date: 

Thursday, March 12, 2015, 5:30pm to 7:00pm

Location: 

Austin 101 East, Harvard Law School

"Apolitical Animals: from Machiavelli to Morris Fiorina"

A powerful, almost irresistible strain of modern political theory invites us to see "the people" as defined by a common-sense interest in security, prosperity, and fairness. In this image, popular common-sense might rule, were it not for the corrupting effects of political animals – partisans, defined by their irrational love of power. As Machiavelli says, the few want to oppress, while the many want not to be oppressed. Is the modern image of the apolitical people right? Can the apolitical people protect themselves against rule by political animals?

Russell Muirhead is the author of The Promise of Party for a Polarized Age, published last fall by Harvard University Press. He is also the author of Just Work, a book on the political and ethical meanings of the work ethic – and a number of articles in democratic theory. His work attends to the habits and mores, not just the arguments, that sustain vital democracies. Muirhead teaches at Dartmouth College, where he is the Robert Clements Professor of Democracy and Politics. He's also taught at the University of Texas at Austin, Williams College, and Harvard College. When he is not teaching or writing or repairing old cars, he can be found coaching an unruly but fast squad of six year girls for the Ford Sayre Ski Team in New Hampshire's "upper valley."

See also: Ethics