The cult of incompetence by Émile Faguet
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"The Cult of Incompetence" by Émile Faguet is a critical examination of modern democracy, likely written in the early 20th century. Through his insights, Faguet argues that contemporary democratic systems worship and promote incompetence, specifically in governance and the selection of leaders. He explores the detrimental effects of this preference on society, government, and the law, suggesting that a more competent and informed leadership is essential for effective governance. The opening of
the book begins with an introduction that sets the stage for Faguet's argument by discussing historical frameworks of governance and the importance of principles in various government forms. It transitions into a critical overview of how democracies tend to elevate the incompetent, illustrated through historical examples and philosophical reflection. Faguet contends that this trend leads to a lack of specialization and a decline in governmental effectiveness, as the populace fails to appreciate the necessity of qualified leaders, resulting in chaotic and ineffective legislation driven by popular passion rather than wisdom or reason. Overall, the opening portion establishes a thought-provoking foundation for the arguments and critiques that will unfold throughout the entire text. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Faguet, Émile, 1847-1916 |
|---|---|
| Translator | Barstow, Beatrice |
| Uniform Title | Le culte de l'incompétence. English |
| Title | The cult of incompetence |
| Credits |
Produced by Gerard Arthus, Meredith Bach and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 55.3 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | JC: Political science: Political theory |
| Subject | Democracy |
| Subject | France -- Politics and government |
| Subject | Mental efficiency |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 27368 |
| Release Date | Nov 30, 2008 |
| Last Update | Jan 4, 2021 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 5421 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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