Informal in tone yet serious in content, this book serves as a lively and accessible guide for readers discovering the tradition of political thought that dates back to Socrates and Plato. Because the arguments of the great philosophers are nearly eternal, even those long schooled on politics will find that this book calls on recurring questions about morality and power, justice and war, the risk of democracy, the necessity for evil, the perils of tolerance, and the meaning of happiness. Jeffrey Abramson argues politics with the classic writers and draws the reader into a spirited conversation with contemporary examples that illustrate the enduring nature of political dilemmas. As the discussions deepen, the voices of Abramson’s own teachers, and of the students he has taught, enter into the mix, and the book becomes a tribute not just to the great philosophers but also to the special bond between teacher and student. As Hegel famously noted, referring to the Roman goddess Minerva, her owl brought back wisdom only at dusk, when it was too late to shine light on actual politics. Abramson reminds us that there are real political problems to confront, and in a book filled with grace and passion, he captures just how exciting serious learning can be.

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A collection of essays about the O.J. Simpson trial drawn from magazines such as Newsweek, The New Republic, and Congressional Quarterly, includes articles on the different reactions between African-Americans and white Americans and the effects of pretrial publicity on jurors. Original.

Explores the evolution of the jury system from colonial days to the present, debates fundamental questions about the jury system, and examines cases from American history to show how juries form an essential element of democracy

Looks at the history of the media's influence on elections, discusses how new technology will change the future, and suggests ways to use it to strengthen our democracy

Examines the moral and political implications of psychoanalysis and argues that the process of self-realization leads to community involvement and not to greater individual freedom