Professor Explores Confronting “Hard Thoughts” in New Book

Lewis & Clark Law professor David Schraub’s new book, Deliberation, Dismissal, and Democracy, will be hitting the shelves soon. A contemplative look at “hard thoughts”, he explores how citizens can be made to address issues that are essential to think about in a healthy democracy but that are easily dismissed.

In the legal practice, the practice of dismissal offers an opportunity to disregard and dispose of a claim that does not present a valid case prior to investigating its merits. Through this book, though, Professor Schraub focuses on the concept of dismissal as a social phenomenon rather than a legal one. “I’m exploring this practice… how it happens, why it’s problematic, and how we can build deliberative institutions that encourage us not to do it,” he explained, “In doing so, the book tackles a range of contemporary questions and controversies, including disputes over racism and antisemitism, campus protests, and free speech/cancel culture.”

In Deliberation, Dismissal, and Democracy, Professor Schraub seamlessly blends academic work, both historical and contemporary, with everyday examples to create a framework under which readers may consider the problem of dismissal in our society. “[These are questions] we must be willing to grapple with as responsible citizens… [I]t’s really important that people think critically about [their] views or ideologies,… so it’s not a good thing if we short-circuit that consideration by dismissing objections without serious thought,” he said.

The book is slated to be published early this November, and is available for pre-sale orders now on the Oxford University Press website.