Dirty hands and the fragility of democracy

Contemporary Political Theory 19 (4):663-682 (2020)
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Abstract

Dirty hands cases are often seen as a crucial challenge for political ethics. Michael Walzer’s analysis of dirty hands cases has been especially influential. On closer inspection, however, Walzer’s analysis contains some serious flaws. This article examines how and to what extent the political ethics of Paul Ricoeur can remedy the problems in Walzer’s approach. It is shown that Ricoeur’s approach can offer a better understanding of what is at stake in dilemmas in political action and that it can provide guidance for dealing with such issues. Ricoeur’s analysis, furthermore, provides the foundation for a more critical political ethics than Walzer can offer.

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Citations of this work

50 Years of Dirty Hands: An Overview.Christina Nick & Stephen de Wijze - 2023 - The Journal of Ethics 27 (4):415-439.

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References found in this work

Oneself as Another.Paul Ricoeur - 1992 - University of Chicago Press.
Oneself as Another.Paul Ricoeur & Kathleen Blamey - 1992 - Religious Studies 30 (3):368-371.
Plural and conflicting values.Michael Stocker - 1989 - New York: Oxford University Press.

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