Christopher Holman Knihy

Exploring the complexities of democratic terminology, this work engages critically with Hobbes, known for his skepticism toward democracy. It highlights his analysis of democratic sovereignty, clarifying essential elements of governance amidst contemporary confusion. The book also addresses inherent political risks within democratic mechanics as critiqued by Hobbes. Additionally, it presents a reinterpretation of Hobbesian concepts to construct a normative framework that positions democracy as an ethical alternative to other forms of sovereignty, challenging traditional views.

The book offers a critical reassessment of Niccolò Machiavelli's political philosophy, highlighting his development of a distinct ethical basis for democratic engagement. It emphasizes the importance of individual creativity in shaping democratic practices, suggesting that Machiavelli's ideas extend beyond traditional interpretations and contribute to contemporary discussions on democracy and ethics.

Politics as Radical Creation examines the meaning of democratic practice through the critical social theory of the Frankfurt School. It provides an understanding of democratic politics as a potentially performative good-in-itself, undertaken not just to the extent that it seeks to achieve a certain extrinsic goal, but also in that it functions as a medium for the expression of creative human impulses. Christopher Holman develops this potential model through a critical examination of the political philosophies of Herbert Marcuse and Hannah Arendt. Holman argues that, while Arendt and Marcuse's respective theorizations each ultimately restrict the potential scope of creative human expression, their juxtaposition – which has not been previously explored – results in a more comprehensive theory of democratic existence, one that is uniquely able to affirm the creative capacities of the human being. Yielding important theoretical results that will interest scholars of each theorist and of theories of democracy more generally, Politics as Radical Creation provides a valuable means for rethinking the nature of contemporary democratic practice.