The Cult of IncompetenceDutton, 1912 - Broj stranica: 244 Though it may not have been possible in the following pages to reproduce the elegant and incisive style of a master of French prose, not even the inadequacies of a translation can obscure the force of his argument. The only introduction, therefore, that seems possible must take the form of a request to the reader to study M. Faguet's criticism of modern democracy with the daily paper in his hand. He will then see, taking chapter by chapter, how in some aspects the phenomena of English democracy are identical with those described in the text, and how in others our English worship of incompetence, moral and technical, differs considerably from that which prevails in France. It might have been possible, as a part of the scheme of this volume, to note on each page, by way of illustration, instances from contemporary English practice, but an adequate execution of this plan would have overloaded the text, or even required an additional volume. Such a volume, impartially worked out with instances drawn from the programme of all political parties, would be an interesting commentary on current political controversy, and it is to be hoped that M. Faguet's suggestive pages will inspire some competent hand to undertake the task. |
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absolutely administration agrégation ancient appear appointment aristo aristocracy Aristotle Atheism Athens authority become body candidate character choose chosen citizens civil co-optation collectivism competence constitution Cour de Cassation courts cracy crowd decrees demagogues demo democracy democratic deputies despotism elected electors equality everything examination exist fact Faguet favour form of government French Senate Gerontocracy honour idea impartial imperative mandate incompetence independent intellectual interest irremovable judges judges of appeal judicial juge de paix jury justice legislator liberty lives Lycurgus magistrates matter means ment Minister monarchy Montesquieu moral efficiency national representatives natural necessary never Nietzsche nominated obey oligarchy opinion party passions perhaps Plato political politicians popular préfet prejudices principle profession question realise reason recognise republic requires respect result Rousseau school teacher schoolmaster Senate sense sentiment social sort sovereignty spirit superiority tence thing tion true universal suffrage virtue Voltaire wish