Using Human Intelligence to Solve Public's Problems in the Public and Its Problems by John Dewey

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In The Public and Its Problems, a book on social and political philosophy, John Dewey displays his beliefs of the potential of human intelligence to solve the public's problems. From his own perspective, Dewey makes clear the meaning and implications of such concepts as "the public," "the state," "government," and "political democracy."

Dewey’s explains all of this by showing differences between the "state," which is represented by selected lawmakers, and the "public," the diffuse, a body of citizens who generally choose the people for the state. The public is called when individuals experience the negative consequences of exchanges beyond their control (such as market or governmental activities). The public is made up of people whose similar interest is fixated on dissolving these negative externalities through legislation; in fact, Dewey believes that a public does not really exist until a negative externality calls it into being.

Dewey declares that this occurs when people can begin to comprehend how the results of indirect actions affect them as a whole: “Indirect, extensive, enduring and serious consequences of conjoint and interacting behavior call a public into existence having a common interest in controlling these consequences” (Dewey, 126).Therefore, a public only develops when it has purpose and comes together around a subject of significance or of importance.

Dewey reluctantly acknowledges the arguments of other opponents of modern democracy such as, Walter Lippman. Dewey believes there are influential forces that work in order to conceal the public and stop it from clearly defining its needs. For example, Dewey explains how special interest, controlling corporate wealth, numbing and diverting entertainment, common...

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...e the “Great Community.” He writes, “Without such communication the public will remain shadowy and formless…Till the Great Society is converted into a Great Community, the Public will remain in eclipse. Communication can alone create a great community” (Dewey, 142).

Overall, John Dewey’s The Public and Its Problems deals in large part with the problem of increasing access to scientific and specialized knowledge in a way that recognizes the ideals of democratic societies.

Most actions by and between people are private—which is to say they affect only the individuals in question and are of no legitimate interest to anyone else. But some activities on the part of individuals may have indirect consequences on others.

Work Cited

Dewey John. 1954. “The Public and Its Problems.” United States of America: Swallow Press/Ohio University Press Books.

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