In Search of the Republic: Public Virtue and the Roots of American Government

by Richard Vetterli

When In Search of the Republic was originally published in 1987, scholarly interpretations of the concept of virtue in the American founding were considered peripheral to mainstream political theory. Since then, the authors' arguments that public virtue, civic responsibility, and private morality were at the heart of the Founding Fathers' political thought is now accepted by a growing number of contemporary political theorists. This revised...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0847681734
• ISBN13: 9780847681730
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Length: 280 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Virtue as the key ingredient in an American democracy.

This is an in depth view of the principles upon which the Founding Fathers based the government of the United States. The author outlines the type of people and culture that allowed this type of democracy to come about. Accordingly, the reader is left with a better understanding of the problems inherent in American government today. There are organizational problems with this book. Key points are repeated often, leaving the reader to wonder, "didn't I just read that?" If the reader can look past these shortcomings, a better understanding of the American government's strengths and weaknesses can be found.

Excellent look at philosophical backgrounds of the founding

After reading this book for a course taught by Dr. Vetterli, I must say that it was the best look at the American Founding. Instead of approaching it from a traditional historical method, Vetterli and Bryner take us into the philosophies, ideas, and influences that played upon the founding fathers. If you are at all interested in American government, this is a must read