A Comparative Essay

A detailed Summary of A Comparative Essay

After reading America's Constitutional Soul, by Harvey C. Mansfield, Jr., and The True and Only Heaven, by Christopher Lasch, I came to the realization that while they have varying ideas on many topics, they have similar conservative views regarding citizenship and civil rights.

Specifically, Mansfield discusses his belief that people are best served through a

representative government and does not believe that all citizens should be allowed to rule directly (Mansfield 141). In this regard, Mansfield contends that people, in general, tend to be irrational and rely too much on feelings as opposed to reasoned conclusions (Mansfield 29-30). Therefore, if a true

form of participatory democracy were practiced where all citizens have the right to actively

participate in the decision-making processes, Mansfield believes that our society would not benefit. Mansfield, in maintaining his views that citizens are easily swayed by their feelings instead of by intellectual reasoning, believes that professional, special interest groups that are savvy enough to capitalize on this human weakness, would sway the votes of the majority and earn themselves a majority vote. To combat this problem, Mansfield believes (as did our Founding

these rights should be united instead of secondary to the other.

Similarly, Christopher Lasch seems to have the same doubts about citizens' ability to

Similarly, as Mansfield would concur, Lasch appears to be against reparation for those whose civil rights were hard fought and finally realized. In other words, Lasch was against compensatory programs. He believed that such programs, like Affirmative Action, had a damaging effect on the morale of the minority (Lasch 409). It was Lasch's belief that if minorities characterized themselves

behavior. This document requires that actions be formal. According to Mansfield, the United States Constitution is documented proof that citizens want self-government and that they have the ability, through formal processes set up by institutions, to rise above self-interest (Mansfield 151).

Some common words found in the essay are:
Mansfield Lasch, Lasch Mansfield, Specifically Mansfield, Rights Movement, Electoral College, Bill Rights, Finally Mansfield, Affirmative Action, Christopher Lasch, Similarly Mansfield, civil rights, mansfield believes, rights mansfield, society mansfield, civil rights movement, mansfield discusses, christopher lasch, natural rights, democratic society, lasch mansfield, rights movement, life liberty pursuit, liberty pursuit happiness, lasch 364 lasch, democratic society mansfield,

Approximate Word count = 1315
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

join now Save Paper

Saved Paper

Save your papers so you can locate them quickly!

Newest Essays

Testimonials

"Thank You So Much!!! You have saved me once again!!!"
Jack M.
"With so many papers to chose from, I was able to get ideas to help me with all of my classes. Thank You!"
Brian P.
"I've used this site for the last 3 years to help me come up with ideas for my papers."
Sara J.
"I use this site every week to help me write my own papers!"
Rachel W.
"I love this site!!!"
Marie N.

A Comparative Essay

Related Essays

Professional Essays

Saved Paper

Newest Essays

Testimonials