The Public and Its Problems · Concepts
Concepts
Ideas that structure The Public and Its Problems by John Dewey — linked to characters, chapters, and questions.
The State and Government
The text distinguishes between the state as a formal political organization and the broader, dynamic processes of governance and community life.
Communication and Democracy
Dewey argues that effective communication is the essential foundation for a functioning democratic public and shared understanding.
Critique of Atomistic Individualism
The book challenges the classical liberal notion of the isolated individual, emphasizing the social and relational nature of human experience.
The Great Society vs. The Great Community
Dewey contrasts the fragmented, technologically interconnected 'Great Society' with the ideal of a genuinely democratic and participatory 'Great Community.'
Inquiry and Social Intelligence
The work advocates for the application of scientific inquiry and experimental intelligence to solve public problems and improve social conditions.
The Eclipse of the Public
Dewey diagnoses the modern condition where the public is lost or obscured due to the complexity and scale of industrial society.