Premium
THE WILSONIAN DILEMMA
Author(s) -
Hall Mark David
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
southeastern political review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1747-1346
pISSN - 0730-2177
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-1346.1997.tb00460.x
Subject(s) - dilemma , law and economics , moral dilemma , epistemology , political science , sociology , law , philosophy , psychology , social psychology
This essay explores James Wilson's approach to the so‐called “Madisonian Dilemma.” I first explain how the tension between majority rule and minority rights was more extreme for Wilson than for most founders. I then show how his view of human nature and moral epistemology allowed him to resolve the dilemma. Although Wilson's solution may be less realistic than Madison's, it is still worthy of serious consideration because of its influence on the creation of America's constitutional system.