Hallowell makes a significant argument in favour of the importance of moral values in the orderly functioning of modern democracies. Hallowell begins with a survey of the role that classical liberalism and faith in man as a reasonable, moral, and spiritual actor played in the emergence of democratic self-government. He sharply criticises positivist thought and moral relativism as direct challenges to the notion that transcendent truths guide individuals in their actions and influence how people participate in a democratic society. Hallowell reminds us that at its core, a well-functioning democracy must be based on a fundamental respect for the dignity of the individual.

Excerpt from The Moral Foundation of Democracy With some minor revisions, this book consists of six lectures which were given at the University of Chicago in the spring of 1952 under the auspices of the Charles R. Walgreen Foundation for the Study of American Institutions. And I should like to take this Opportunity to thank the Foundation and especially its chairman, Professor Jerome G. Kerwin, for the encouragement it has given me in extending this invitation. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

"Oct. 30, 2012"--Publication date from publisher's site: http://yalepress.yale.edu/yupbooks/book.asp?isbn=97803001854

"An analytical and historical inquiry into the primary, moral concept of equality"--Cover.

The author claims that some basic rights are neglected or denied, and calls for active moral awakening.